5-CARD BADUGI

Overview

5-Card Badugi is a triple draw lowball game where each player receives five cards but aims to make the best four-card Badugi hand. A Badugi is a four-card hand where all four cards have different suits and different ranks. Aces are low; the best possible hand is 4♠ 3♥ 2♦ A♣. The extra fifth card gives you more flexibility — you always pick the best four from your five to form your hand.

Number of Players

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

The Object

Make the lowest Badugi from your five cards — pick the best four that all have different suits AND different ranks. Aces are always low. The best possible hand is 4♠ 3♥ 2♦ A♣.

Hand Evaluation

From your five cards, select the best four-card Badugi you can make. The same Badugi rules apply:

• 4-card Badugi — four cards, all different suits, all different ranks (best possible)
• 3-card hand — three unique-suit/rank cards (fourth slot cannot qualify)
• 2-card hand — two qualifying cards
• 1-card hand — worst possible

Within a tier, compare hands starting with the highest card — lower is always better.

Blinds

5-Card Badugi uses a small blind and big blind posted before the deal.

The Deal

Each player receives 5 cards face-down.

Betting & Draw Structure

1. Bet #1: After receiving your 5 cards
2. Draw #1: Discard 0–5 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 four-card Badugi (or partial hand) wins

How to Evaluate Your Hand

Choose the best four cards from your five:

1. Remove any card that shares a suit with a lower-ranked card you kept
2. Remove any card that shares a rank with a card you kept
3. From your remaining cards, pick the four that form the lowest Badugi

Example: A♠ 2♥ 3♣ 4♦ 7♦ — two diamonds (4♦ and 7♦). Keep 4♦ (lower), drop 7♦. Best four: A♠ 2♥ 3♣ 4♦ = 4-3-2-A, the nuts!

Comparing Hands Within the Same Tier

• Any 4-card Badugi beats any 3-card hand
• Within the same tier, compare the highest card — lower is better
• 4-3-2-A beats 5-3-2-A (both Badugis, 4 beats 5 at top card)
• When duplicate suits exist, always remove the higher duplicate

Strategy Tips

• If you start with four low cards of different suits, you may already hold a Badugi — use the fifth slot to upgrade the highest card
• The extra card means you can hold onto a partial Badugi while still drawing to complete it
• A-2-3 in different suits is a premium start — you only need one more unique-suit low card
• Count how many cards opponents draw — zero draws usually signals a strong made Badugi
• Standing pat at Draw #2 or #3 sends a powerful message about hand strength
• Never keep two cards of the same suit — always discard the higher one

Example Hand

You hold . Two hearts — not a clean Badugi. Best four right now: A♠ 2♥ 7♦ K♣ = K-7-2-A. Discard 5♥ K♣. Draw #1: get — now holding A♠ 2♥ 3♣ 7♦ 4♦. Two diamonds: keep 4♦, drop 7♦. Best four: A♠ 2♥ 3♣ 4♦ = 4-3-2-A, the nuts!