Badugi Poker Rules And StrategyBadugi is a new game taking the online poker world by storm. It is an action-packed game combining the most exciting elements of poker with a new spin on hand values and psychology.
Budagi Rules
Badugi is a triple draw four card low-hand wins game! The best low hand is comprised of four cards, with none of the same suit and none of the same rank; i.e., ace, two, three, four, all of different suits, is the best possible hand.
When you find yourself holding 4 cards of different rank and suit, then you are holding a Badugi.
How the Dealing Works
Each player is dealt 4 cards in a clockwise direction starting from the player on the small blind. Cards are dealt to each player one card at a time. Once everyone has their 4 cards, the action begins with the player to the left of the big blind and continues around the table in a clockwise direction.
How to Play Badugi Poker
Each player is dealt 4 cards, after which the first betting round ensues, based on the strength of each players initial 4 cards. The betting amounts will depend on which variation of Badugi you are playing, Limit, Pot Limit, or Half Pot Limit.
First bet round
In this round, the first player to act is the first participating player clockwise from the big blind. The player may fold, call, or raise. Each player in clockwise order is asked to bet (call, raise, fold, or check). Once everyone has had their turn and all bets are matched, you move on to the first draw.
First draw round
Players are offered the opportunity to draw zero to four cards, clockwise from the first participating seat to the left of the dealer button. Players select which cards to keep and which to replace through a draw. Drawing no cards is known as Standing Pat.
Second bet round
Once players have completed their first draws, the second betting round is held. Again, the bet increment uses the low stakes.
Second draw round
Same as first draw round.
Third bet round
Same as second bet round, only exception is that on this round, the high stake is used for the betting increment.
Third draw round
Same as second draw round, applying reshuffle of discards as is necessary. Final bet round: The final betting round follows the same rules, using the high stake and leads to a showdown if more than one player remains standing.
More about Badugi
A badugi is a 4 card hand of all different suits and values. e.g. Ac 2h 3d 4s, 4d 6c 9h Ts, 3h 4c 8d 9s, etc.
What is a 3-card hand?
A 3-card hand is a hand that has one card copying another, either by suit and/or by value, therefore reducing the overall value of the hand to simply 3 active cards e.g. Ac Ah 2d 3s, 2d 3h 5c 6c, 4d 6c 7d 8h.
What is a 2-card hand?
A 2-card hand is a hand that has 2 cards copying the other 2, either by suit and/or value, therefore reducing the overall value to simply 2 active cards e.g. 2d 2h 3d 3h, 4c 5c 6d 6s, Ac 4c 5s 7s.
What is a 1-card hand?
A 1-card hand is the worst possible hand whereby the overall value of the hand is reduced to simply one card due to copying by suits and/or value e.g. AAAA, Ah 2h 3h 4h, 4c 5c 8c Tc.
How are hand rankings determined, highest to lowest or lowest to highest?
Hand values are determined from highest card down to lowest card. e.g. Ac 3s 4h 6d beats Ad 3h 4s 9c, 5c 6c 7d 8d beats 6h 7s 7h 8h, 4444 beats 8888
Showdown
The showdown rules follow those of Texas Holdem. In brief, the player whose last bet is called, if there is one, shows cards first. If there is no last aggressor, showdown begins from the first participant holding cards, clockwise from the dealer button. As hands are shown, players with losing hands may muck or show, similar to Holdem. Once the showdown is complete, the winner is announced and awarded the pot.
Strategy
Obtaining Badugi is your first priority. If you hold ace, 2, 3 different suits and your fourth card copies a suit of another card with no draws left, and people have been standing pat, get out! Although you have the best three card hand, itll be useless against a badugi. If you dealt the above example youll only ever draw to badugi 47% of the time after drawing three times, you could lose to Kc, Qd, Js, 10d; this tends to make the game very frustrating.
Badugi Poker is like any other poker game, to be good; you need to know when to foldem. Overall discipline is the best badugi strategy you can use.
Betting
Pot Limit – In Pot LIMIT poker games the maximum amount players can raise or bet is equal to the size of the pot
No Limit – In No LIMIT poker games, there is simply no structure or maximum LIMIT on the bet or raise (except to the extent that you are limited to betting the amount of chips you have on the table). In no LIMIT games there are a maximum number of chips you can buy in with. This varies depending on the sizes of the blinds. E.g. For a £1/£2 game the maximum number of chips you can start with is £200 this is to prevent people buying a strong chip lead in the game.
Limit – Fixed LIMIT poker games are games where the betting limits are structured by round. For example a £10/£20 LIMIT Holdem game indicates that the initial bets and raises are £10, and the later bets and raises are £20. In fixed LIMIT games there is also a LIMIT on the number of raises per round; this can vary by poker site but is typically 3 raises per round of betting.