Badugi Poker Rules

What is badugi poker?

Badugi is a 4-card draw lowball poker variant that originated in South Korea in the 1980s. Each player receives 4 hole cards, then has 3 drawing rounds to improve their hand. The goal is to have 4 cards of different ranks AND different suits, with the lowest unpaired combination winning. The best possible hand is A-2-3-4 of four different suits (the 'wheel badugi').

How do badugi hand rankings work?

Counter-intuitive: lower is better, AND pairs/matching suits don't count. A 4-card badugi (all different ranks AND suits) beats any 3-card hand. A-2-3 in 3 suits beats K-Q-J-10 with two matching suits. Detailed ranking: 1) Lowest 4-card badugi wins; 2) If no badugi, lowest 3-card hand wins; 3) Etc. A-2-3-4 of four different suits is the nuts.

What is a 'badugi' hand?

A 'badugi' specifically means a 4-card hand with no pairs and no two cards of the same suit. A badugi always beats a non-badugi (3-card or fewer). Among badugis, lower is better — A-2-3-4 badugi beats 9-6-3-2 badugi. The hand that gives the game its name.

Where can I play badugi online?

Badugi is a specialty game with limited availability. PokerStars offers badugi cash games and as part of 8-Game mix. GGPoker offers it occasionally. Live: rare outside of mixed-game high-stakes (Bobby's Room, Big O homes). Sit-and-Go badugi tournaments occasionally run on major sites. Most casual players won't encounter badugi unless playing 8-Game mixed tournaments.

Is badugi included in mixed games?

Yes — badugi is one of the 8 games in the 8-Game Mix format. The full rotation: Triple Draw 2-7, Limit Hold'em, Omaha Hi-Lo, Razz, Stud, Stud Hi-Lo, NL Hold'em, PLO. (Some 8-Game variants include Badugi instead of one of these.) Tested at the highest level in WSOP $50K 8-Game championships.