Badugi Poker Explained: An Essential Beginner’s Guide

What You’ll Discover in This Badugi Poker Guide

If you’re curious about expanding your poker skills beyond Texas Hold’em, Badugi is a compelling lowball game packed with unique twists. In this comprehensive beginner’s guide, you’ll learn:

– **Core rules and game objectives** – What makes Badugi distinctive and how a hand unfolds.
– **How hand rankings work** – Mastering Badugi’s unusual system and what constitutes a premium hand.
– **Types of Badugi variations and useful strategies** – Explore alternative versions and get practical tips to boost your odds.
– **Understanding the betting format** – Grasp how betting rounds and draws structure the action.
– **Essential Badugi terms** – Build your vocabulary with game-specific phrases and lingo.

Mixed poker games like Badugi have gained popularity among players seeking challenges beyond No Limit Hold’em. You’ll now find Badugi mixed into home games and casino events, particularly in places like Las Vegas.

Unlike regular poker variants, Badugi sees each player receive four cards and participate in up to three drawing rounds—reminiscent of games such as 2-7 Triple Draw. The aim is to build the lowest possible hand with no repeating suits or ranks.

The Rise of Badugi in Poker Tournaments

Although Badugi originated in the 1980s, its profile has grown thanks to features in major poker series—especially in Las Vegas. The World Series of Poker (WSOP) introduced Badugi in its mixed-game events, and since 2023, it’s had its own standalone $1,500 buy-in tournament.

For example, when the event first launched in 2023, Michael Rodrigues from Portugal captured the title out of 518 contenders, securing $144,678. In the following year, American Joseph Wagganer took first place and $129,676, with 487 entrants participating.

This growing visibility shows Badugi’s momentum in both tournament and cash game circles—and as more players embrace its strategy, it’s likely to become even more prominent.

Badugi Poker Rules: How the Game Works

Unlike classic poker, where players chase matching cards or suits for strong hands, Badugi flips this concept. Here’s what you need to know to play Badugi:

– Each player receives four face-down cards.
– The objective is to form the lowest four-card hand possible, using cards of distinct suits and ranks—no pairs, no repeated suits.
– The strongest hand is A-2-3-4, each of a different suit (e.g., As-2h-3d-4c).

Games are typically played in a fixed-limit betting format (rather than no-limit or pot-limit), making strategic play around betting rounds essential. Here’s the general flow of a hand:

– Two forced bets—the small blind and big blind—are posted by players left of the dealer button.
– Each participant is dealt four cards. Betting begins with the player to the left of the big blind, who can fold, call, or raise.
– Action proceeds clockwise, with each player acting in turn.
– The small blind can complete their bet or raise. If there’s no raise, the big blind may check or raise.
– Next is the first draw: starting to the left of the dealer, players may discard up to all four cards to receive fresh ones.
– Once draws conclude, discarded cards are set aside. If the draw pile runs out, these are reshuffled for continued play.
– A new betting round takes place, again starting with the player left of the dealer.
– The second and third draw rounds follow, each with their own betting rounds.
– On each draw, players may elect to “stand pat” (not draw any new cards) or exchange whichever cards they wish.
– After the final betting round, players who remain reveal their hands. The winner is the one holding the lowest unique hand.

Understanding Badugi Hand Rankings

Badugi has its own ranking system, focused on originality in rank and suit. The ideal hand—called a “four-card Badugi”—features four cards of different suits and values, with the lowest possible ranks. Ace is always low; suits don’t rank against each other.

Here’s how you determine the winner:

– Compare the highest card in each Badugi hand (lower is better).
– If no player has four qualifying cards, three-card (or fewer) hands are compared, ignoring duplicates in suit or rank.

For example:

– 2♠ 3♥ 6♦ 7♣ beats A♠ 4♥ 6♣ 8♦ because the first hand’s highest card (7) is lower than 8.
– In hands with suit duplicates, only one of each suit can count. For example, Ac 4d 6d 6s is reduced to Ac 4d 6d (three-card Badugi). This beats Ad 3h 7c 10h (which becomes Ad 3h 7c), since the highest comparative card (6) is lower than 7.

Strategic Tips for Badugi Poker

Success in Badugi hinges on sound strategy, positional awareness, and adjusting your approach as the hand develops. Here are key points to remember:

– **Position matters**: Being further from the dealer gives you more information on opponents’ actions, making it easier to bluff or decide whether to call or fold.
– **Act selectively**: In late position, watch other players’ patterns to choose profitable betting opportunities.
– **Don’t overvalue draws**: Four-card Badugis are rare, so strong three-card hands can still secure pots—especially if other players’ hands show weaknesses.
– **Assess the field size**: More players mean a higher probability someone will complete a four-card Badugi, boosting the importance of hand selection and bluffing.

When considering probabilities:

– If you land a three-card Badugi on your first draw (e.g., Ac 2d 4s 4c, discarding the second 4), you have about a 51% chance of making a four-card Badugi by the end.
– If you need only one card to complete your hand, your chances drop to around 21%.

Popular Badugi Variants: Expanding the Game

Poker enthusiasts have enhanced Badugi with new versions, adding depth and variety. Here are the most common alternatives:

Badeucy: Split-Pot Badugi and 2-7 Triple Draw

Badeucy blends Badugi and 2-7 Triple Draw in a split-pot format:

– Each player receives five cards.
– Four are used to make a Badugi hand; five for the lowest 2-7 lowball hand.
– Aces count high in this variant.
– After usual betting and drawing rounds, the pot splits: half for the best Badugi, half for the best 2-7 Triple Draw hand.
– Strategy centers around trying to “scoop” both halves with complementary hands.

Badacey: Combining Badugi and A-5 Triple Draw

Badacey is another popular split-pot game:

– Players receive five cards per hand.
– Form a four-card Badugi and a separate five-card A-5 lowball hand (in A-5, aces are always low; suits are ignored).
– Straights and flushes matter for A-5 hand rankings.
– After betting and draws, the pot divides between the best Badugi and the best A-5 Triple Draw hand.

Why Badugi Poker Is an Exciting Alternative to Hold’em

Badugi and its variants such as Badeucy and Badacey offer a fresh take for those wanting something beyond standard poker formats:

– **Engaging format**: With unique draws, hand rankings, and betting patterns, every hand feels different.
– **Strategic depth**: The scarcity of four-card Badugis, multiple betting rounds, and nuanced bluffing make for deeply tactical play.
– **Rising popularity**: You’ll now find Badugi mixed into many tournament series and online poker rooms, with more players picking it up each year.

Badugi is played using blinds and structured bets, traditionally in fixed-limit settings, and can be added to any mixed home game. If you’re looking to try a creative, lowball poker format with strategic twists, Badugi is an excellent place to start.