Casino Royale Plot...?

Question

Just a couple of questions I was a bit lost on:

I know the mission was to find out who was financing terrorists, but someone explain the poker scene.

Was Bond supposed to use the game to find out who ?

Answer 1

Okay Siena cut and pasted the wikipedia article but to answer directly without spoilers. The poker game was to cause La Chrieffe to have to come to MI6 because he wouldn't be able to pay back the terrorists he owed money to. They wanted him alive so they could get information from him on who his employer was (Mr. White) which is why Bond killed the terrorists who were trying to kill La Chrieffe.

Answer 2

The game was to bankrupt Le Chiffre.

Answer 3

The black-and-white pre-credits sequence shows the two kills that give Bond his 00 status. Following the gun barrel shot and stylised opening credits (accompanied by Chris Cornell's gritty theme song You Know My Name), the audience is introduced to Le Chiffre as he is introduced to new clients, the Lord's Resistance Army, by a Mr White. Le Chiffre is a banker who specializes in taking care of questionable accounts such as those that belong to terrorists. However, his clients do not know that he also uses the money that he is given to manipulate the stock market. At the same time, Bond, in Madagascar, chases suspected bomb-maker Molloka via a construction site and an embassy. After killing him, Bond discovers the word 'Ellipsis' on his mobile phone. Despite M's outrage at the havoc at the embassy, Bond goes to the Bahamas and tracks down the originator of the text, Alex Dimitros.

Bond first humiliates Dimitrios by winning his classic Aston Martin and a lot of money in a game of poker. He seduces Dimitrios' wife, Solange, and on finding that Dimitrios has left for Miami, follows him. Bond kills Dimitrios when he discovers Bond following him and follows his associate, a terrorist named Carlos, to Miami airport, discovering that 'Ellipsis' is the code to enter the secure area there. Bond foils his attempt to blow up a new super jet, clipping the detonator intended for a refuelling truck to his belt-loop instead.

Daniel Craig in action as James Bond.As a result Le Chiffre loses over $100 million due to his stock market bet that the jetliner manufacturer would fail, and he allows Solange to be killed under questioning because of Dimitrios.

Bond is sent to Montenegro to defeat Le Chiffre at Texas hold 'em poker (known in the film as Tenez Les Cartes ["Hold The Cards"]), as Le Chiffre attempts to recoup his losses. It is hoped that Le Chiffre would be forced to take refuge under MI6 for protection from his creditors when they discover that their money is gone. Vesper Lynd is a government accountant assigned to look over Bond's handling of the $10 million stake, although their relationship is initially frosty. Also allied with Bond is Rene Mathis, his contact in Montenegro.

Bond plays the game with Le Chiffre and other VIPs over the next few evenings. During the game, they are attacked by men to whom Le Chiffre owes money, but Bond kills them and becomes closer to Vesper in the process of protecting her. During the game, Le Chiffre's henchwoman, Valenka, poisons Bond's martini. Bond staggers out to his med-kit-equipped Aston Martin DBS for the antidote. The other agents at MI6 attempt to give Bond instructions to revive himself but he passes out before he can wire up the defibrillator to restart his heart. Vesper, following Bond outside to find him, discovers his condition and rushes in to connect the defibrillator to save Bond's life. Bond returns to narrowly win the game, playing a straight flush of spades (4 to 8).

Following this defeat, which could cost Le Chiffre his life, he and his gang kidnap Vesper and Bond chases after him in his car, only to crash it to avoid running her over when she is left tied and gagged on the road. He is captured and taken to be tortured both mentally and physically by Le Chiffre for the password to his account. Mysteriously Mr. White arrives to kill all but Bond and Vesper. Bond awakens in a hospital and has Mathis taken away, believing Le Chiffre's statement that he was working for him. The film is ultimately unclear on Mathis' allegiance, which will most likely be revealed in Bond 22.

Bond receives his $115 million and reveals to Vesper the password for the transfer is her name. Bond tenders his resignation, professing true love to Vesper as the two go on holiday in Venice. But when Bond learns the funds are being withdrawn, he discovers Vesper taking the money to criminals. Bond pursues them into a building being renovated. In the firefight, the fragile building collapses and Vesper commits suicide. Bond, feeling betrayed, learns from M that Vesper had an Algerian boyfriend who was kidnapped by the "mysterious organization" for whom she negotiated the handover of money in order to save his life. Vesper had also left a clue in a mobile phone text message with White's number. White is next seen arriving at a castle and answering his mobile. He asks who it is and is suddenly shot in the leg and falls. Bond reveals himself as the shooter, standing over him and uttering the line "The name's Bond. James Bond".