Badugi

Introduction

Badugi is a poker variant usually played in home games. However, it is allowed as a "dealer's choice" game in the World Series of poker and has been known to be played in poker rooms.

Rules

1. Players make ante wagers.
2. Each player gets four cards dealt face down.
3. First round of betting.
4. Players may discard 0 to 4 cards.
5. Second round of betting.
6. Players may discard 0 to 4 cards.
7. Third round of betting.
8. Players may discard 0 to 4 cards.
9. Fourth round of betting.
10. Hands are evaluated per the rules below.

Hand Evaluation

1. The primary goal of Badugi is to have a four-card hand where no suits or ranks are duplicated. Such a hand, representing all four suits and four different ranks, is known as a “Badugi.”
2. If the player has any duplicate suits or ranks, he must discard the duplicates of his choice, so that the remaining 3 or fewer cards represent all unique ranks and suits.
3. The secondary goal is to have the lowest ranked cards. Standard poker lowball rules are followed, where aces are low and straights are not enforced. Thus, the lowest possible hand is A-2-3-4 representing all four suits.
4. In the event no players have a Badugi, then the lowest ranking 3-card hand shall win. If no players had a 3- or 4-card hand, then the lowest ranking 2-card hand shall win. If no players had a 2-, 3- or 4-card hand, then the lowest ranking single card shall win.

Examples

• Ah 3c 5d 7s beats Ac 3d 5s 8h because the 7 is lower than the 8.
• Ah 3c 5d 7s beats Ac 3d 5s 6c because the second hand duplicates the club. That hand would be scored as a 3-card A-3-5. Any 4-card hand beats any 3-card hand.

Video

 

Written by: Michael Shackleford