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How to Play Badugi Poker: Rules of Badugi

Last updated on September 18th, 2025

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Learning how to play Badugi poker gives you a unique twist on traditional poker games. This distinct four-card lowball format challenges players to form the lowest possible hand with cards of different suits and ranks. Allowing you to test your poker chops against a refreshing format.

This guide will cover everything you need to know about Badugi poker, including its origins, hand ranking, gameplay structure, and strategic insights. With this knowledge, you can confidently play Badugi and outsmart your opponents.

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Badugi Poker

What is Badugi Poker?

Badugi poker is an interesting variant that stands out thanks to its unique hand-ranking system and gameplay mechanics. Its appeal lies in the challenge of creating the lowest possible hand, a concept that sets it apart from traditional high-hand poker games.

Origins and Basic Concept of Badugi

Badugi's roots trace back to South Korea, where it was known locally as "Baduk" or "Badug" before Western card rooms adopted and adjusted the spelling. Making it part of their rotation of poker games.

The core concept revolves around forming the lowest four-card hand containing four different suits and four different ranks. It takes a little getting used to thinking about avoiding pairs and matching suits.

Each drawing decision affects whether you end up with a "complete" Badugi (four unique suits/ranks) or a weaker three, two, or one-card hand.

Game Setup and Requirements

Setting up a Badugi game is simple and requires only a few key components. Here's what you need to get started:

Required Equipment: A standard 52-card deck, no jokers.
Player Count: Badugi is most commonly dealt to 2–6 players to ensure enough cards remain for the multiple draw rounds.
Table Positions: As in other blind-based poker games, positions include the dealer button, small blind, and big blind.
Basic Setup Procedure: Each player is dealt four cards face down, after which betting and drawing rounds commence.

Understanding Badugi Hand Rankings

Grasping the hand rankings in Badugi is key to mastering the game. Hands are ranked from lowest (best) to highest (worst). Suits are not ranked; a 4♣-3♦-2♥-A♠ is identical in strength to a 4♦-3♠-2♣-A♥.

What Makes a Badugi Hand

A "complete Badugi" consists of four cards, each of a different suit and rank. The best possible Badugi is 4-3-2-A (of four different suits), because aces are always low. Any duplicate suit or duplicate rank forces you to discount cards when evaluating your hand, leaving you with a weaker hand.

Example:

4♦-3♣-2♥-A♠ → Perfect Badugi (four suits, four ranks)
4♦-4♣-2♥-A♠ → Treated as a three-card hand (one duplicate rank)

Hand Rankings Explained

Below is a table summarizing the hand rankings in Badugi:

Hand Category	Example (best-to-worst within category)	Description & Evaluation Method
Four-Card Badugi	4♦-3♣-2♥-A♠	Four unique suitsandranks. Compare highest card first; lower is better.
Three-Card Hand	5♦-4♣-2♥ (♦♠ duplicate suits discarded)	Exactly one duplicate suitorrank. Compare the best three unique cards.
Two-Card Hand	7♦-2♣ (other two cards duplicate suits)	Two duplicates suit/rank leave only two unique cards. Lowest high card wins.
One-Card Hand	A♠ (all other cards duplicate)	Only one unique card counts. Extremely weak.

Note: "Pairs" and "flushes" aren't separate ranking categories; they simply reduce your hand to three, two, or one-card status depending on how many duplicates you have.

Badugi Gameplay Structure

Understanding the structure of Badugi gameplay is required for succesful participation. The game is divided into betting rounds and draw phases, each requiring strategic consideration.

Betting Rounds and Draws

Badugi is typically dealt as Fixed-Limit Triple Draw, meaning there are three draw rounds and four betting rounds (one before any cards are drawn and one after each draw). Here's a step-by-step breakdown:

Initial Deal (Pre-Draw): Each player receives four cards face-down. First betting round begins with the player to the left of the big blind.
First Draw: Players may discard and replace 0–4 cards. Second betting round follows, starting with the small blind or the nearest active player to the left of the dealer.
Second Draw: Another chance to replace up to four cards, followed by a third betting round.
Third Draw: Final draw (0–4 cards). Then comes the last betting round.
Showdown: Remaining players reveal their hands; the lowest qualifying Badugi wins the pot.

Player Actions

In Badugi, player actions are divided into drawing and betting actions. Understanding when to perform these actions and how they interact with each other is crucial for developing a winning strategy.

Drawing Actions

During each draw phase you may:

Stand Pat – keep all four cards.
Draw – discard 1–4 cards and receive the same number from the dealer.

Betting Actions

Like other fixed-limit games like Omaha, the options are check, bet, call, raise, or fold. Bets in the first two rounds are generally at the lower limit; the final two rounds are at the higher limit.

Pro Tip: Track how many cards opponents draw. Repeated multi-card draws often signal a weak or incomplete hand.

Basic Strategy Guide

Developing a solid strategy is helpful, and Badugi has many poker strategy considerations. Below are key concepts on starting-hand selection and drawing tactics.

Starting Hand Selection

Choosing the right starting hand is vital in Badugi. Here's a tiered list to guide your decisions:

Premium Hands: Four-card Badugis 7-4-3-A or better (all suits unique, highest card 7 or lower).
Playable Hands: Strong three-card holdings such as 4♦-3♣-2♥-(duplicate) where your highest card is 7 or lower.
Hands to Avoid: High cards (J, Q, K) or paired hands, e.g., K♦-Q♣-2♥-2♠.

Drawing Strategy

Effective drawing strategies can significantly impact your success. Consider the following decision-making table:

Current Hand	First Draw	Second Draw	Third Draw
Four-Card	Stand Pat	Stand Pat	Stand Pat
Three-Card	Draw 1	Draw 1 if >7	Stand Pat/Draw 1
Two-Card	Draw 2	Draw 1–2	Draw 1
One-Card	Draw 3	Draw 2	Draw 1–2

Use position and pot odds to decide whether an aggressive draw is profitable.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoiding common beginner mistakes can improve your performance at the table. Here are some mistakes to watch out for:

Overvaluing High Cards: A K-high Badugi almost never wins. Keep your highest card 8 or lower when possible.
Over-chasing: Don't break a strong three-card 6-high to chase a slim chance at a perfect Badugi if pot odds aren't there.
Ignoring Opponent Patterns: Bet more when opponents draw multiple cards; tighten up when they stand pat early.
Poor Position Play: Acting last gives you critical information about opponents' draw counts.
Neglecting Pot Odds: Fixed-limit structures reward disciplined math—fold marginal hands when the price is wrong.

Remember: Consistent practice and sharp observation are keys to mastering Badugi.

Bring Your Low Badugi Hand to The Table

Badugi offers a refreshing challenge with its unique hand rankings and strategic depth. Understanding the game's structure and developing sound strategies will boost your edge and enjoyment. Gather your cards, put these concepts into practice, and start honing your low-hand skills today. If you're ready to try your hand at Badugi, reputable online poker sites allow you to try the game against other players in a safe environment.

Cliff Spiller is a casino and sports enthusiast with nineteen-plus years of experience as a writer and editor. He's blogged about US casino and sports betting news for several prominent gaming sites. Along the way, he's written for OddsShark, NJ.com, SportingNews.com, and LegalSportsReport. Cliff is a US editor for ClickOut Media and a writer for Catena Media.