Badugi

It’s a draw game where players get the chance to change their cards in 3 occasions. The objective of the game is get the lowest hand possible but made out of every different suit called “Badugi”. Although is uncertain how exactly this game emerged, this is a very popular game in Asia, especially in South Korea.

Basic Rules of Badugi

Badugi is a card game where each player receives 4 cards facing down. Additionally each player can change from 4 to none of his cards in 3 different betting rounds. The betting action of the poker games is based on the blinds Texas Hold’em and Omaha use. There is a dealer position and 2 blinds Big Blind and Small Blind. Each player has the chance of changing his cards in 3 different opportunities and the winner of the game.

Table Positions

The Dealer is a representative position that identifies the person dealing the cards in the game. At online and most live play the actual dealing is made by a designated employee of the casino, but the position is represented by a white chip with a “D” in the middle. Next to the dealer, to the immediate left the Small Blind position is defined, and next to this position the Big Blind is assigned. The blinds are mandatory bets put in place to force the action at a game. These positions rotate clockwise each time a new game starts.

Betting Rounds

First Betting Round: This round is divided in 2 parts, before receiving the cards and after receiving the cards. Before any cards are given to any player, the blinds are defined and posted by the corresponding players. As soon as they are posted, each player will receive 4 cards facing down, 1 at a time until all players has the 4 cards. Starting with the Small Blind and finishing with the Dealer. A betting round starts with the player to the left of the Big Blind, like in most card games. Once all bets have been done the first draw is performed. Also known as “the breakfast” each player has the chance to change any of his cards, whether they choose to change them all, three, two, one or none. Once this has been done a new betting round starts.

Second Betting Round: Another betting round starts starting with the small blind or the available player to the left of the small blind. Once all player have acted accordingly, the second draw (know as Lunch) starts. Each player has again the choice of changing some or his entire cards, or to choose not to. Once all players have made their decision the next betting round can start.

Third Betting Round: A new betting round is started, starting by the next available player to the left of the dealer. Once all players have acted third and final draw round takes place, this round is also known as “the supper”. As soon as all players have acted, a final betting round starts.

Forth Betting Round: A final betting round is done, this time there is no draw in the hand. Once the betting has concluded we enter into the “showdown” phase, where the remaining players are forced to show their hand and a winner to be declared. Badugi is a low ball game which ultimate goal is to obtain 4 different cards with 4 different suits. The best possible hand is A♠2♥3♦4♣ if a player has 2 cards with the same value or the same suit, one is eliminated and a 3 card Badugi is made. Any 4 card Badugi will always beat a 3, 2 or 1 card Badugi.

Table limits (Stakes)

Just like in Texas Hold’em there are stakes that define the minimum, and in some cases the maximum bets at a Badugi game. The limits also define the blinds to be placed by the players in this position before the cards are drawn and given to each player. The lower limit defines the small blind by dividing its value by 2. The higher limit defines the big blind by dividing its value by 2. During the 1st and the 2nd round of betting the lower limit is set as the minimum bet to be done. During the 3rd and 4th betting round, it is the high limit which defines the minimum bet.

Betting Limits

When playing Badugi, you will find 3 options of play: Fixed, Pot and Half Pot Limit tables. These limits define the maximums of every bet you do at a table. On fixed limit the maximum you can bet is set by the table limits, during the rounds were the minimum bet is set by the low limit the maximum will be the low limit as well. On the ones that have the minimum set as the high, they will use the same limit for the maximum bet. On Pot Limit, the maximum you can bet will be the amount on the pot at any instance. While playing half pot, the maximum you can bet is half of what the pot holds at any particular moment.