BADUGI

Overview

Badugi is a triple draw lowball game played with four cards instead of five. The goal is to make a "Badugi" — a four-card hand with all different suits and all different ranks. Aces are low, and the best possible hand is 4-3-2-A in four different suits. If you can't make a four-card Badugi, smaller hands compete on their own tier.

Number of Players

2–8 players. A standard 52-card deck is used.

The Object

Make the lowest Badugi — a four-card hand where all four cards have different suits AND different ranks. Aces are always low (the best rank). The best possible hand is 4♠ 3♥ 2♦ A♣.

Hand Size Tiers

Hands are compared by how many qualifying (unique suit + unique rank) cards they contain:

• 4-card Badugi — beats all 3-card, 2-card, and 1-card hands
• 3-card hand — three cards with unique suits and ranks (best 3 kept)
• 2-card hand — two unique cards
• 1-card hand — worst possible (four cards but all sharing suits or ranks)

Comparing Hands Within the Same Tier

Within the same tier, compare the highest card first — lower is always better. Then compare second-highest, third, and fourth:

• 4-3-2-A beats 5-3-2-A (both Badugis, 4 beats 5 at first card)
• 7-4-2-A beats 7-5-2-A (tied on 7, but 4 beats 5)
• Any 4-card Badugi beats any 3-card hand, regardless of card values
• When evaluating a hand with duplicate suits/ranks, always remove the higher duplicate

Blinds

Badugi uses a small blind and big blind, posted before the deal — just like Texas Hold'em.

The Deal

Each player receives 4 cards face-down. Players look at their own cards only.

Betting & Draw Structure

The hand proceeds in alternating betting and draw rounds:

1. Bet #1: After receiving your 4 cards
2. Draw #1: Discard 0–4 cards and draw replacements
3. Bet #2: After the first draw
4. Draw #2: Discard and draw again
5. Bet #3: After the second draw
6. Draw #3: Final discard and draw
7. Bet #4: Final betting round
8. Showdown: Best Badugi (or best partial hand) wins

How to Evaluate Your Hand

To determine your hand's effective size, go through your four cards:

1. Remove any card that shares a suit with a lower-ranked card you already kept
2. Remove any card that shares a rank with a card you already kept
3. Count how many cards remain — that is your hand's tier (4, 3, 2, or 1)

Example: K♠ 2♥ 7♥ 8♣ — the 7♥ shares a suit with 2♥ (lower ranks win); remove 7♥. Remaining: K♠ 2♥ 8♣ = 3-card hand (K-8-2).

Strategy Tips

• Any three low cards of different suits are a strong starting draw — one more unique-suit low card completes the Badugi
• A-2-3 of different suits is a premium starting hand; draw one card every round
• If you have a Badugi by Draw #2, consider standing pat — drawing risks breaking it
• Count how many cards opponents draw — drawing 0 is a strong signal of a made Badugi
• A 3-card Badugi can still win if no opponent makes a 4-card Badugi
• Never keep two cards of the same suit — always discard the higher one

Example Hand

You hold . Two hearts — not a Badugi! Discard 5♥ K♣. Draw #1: get — now J-4-2-A Badugi! Draw #2: discard J♦, draw — 4-3-2-A, the best possible Badugi!