Badugi Poker: The Four-Card Lowball Game Where Suits Define Everything

What is Badugi Poker?

Badugi is a four-card lowball draw poker variant where the best hand consists of four low cards, each of a different suit and different rank. The name derives from the Korean word for a black-and-white spotted dog, referencing the multi-colored (multi-suited) nature of winning hands. Unlike virtually every other poker game, suits are not merely tie-breakers in Badugi—they fundamentally determine hand strength.

The game emerged from South Korea's poker scene and gained international recognition through online poker platforms in the early 2000s. According to PokerNews, Badugi's inclusion in major mixed-game formats like 8-Game cemented its status as an essential variant for serious poker players. The World Series of Poker has featured Badugi in mixed-game bracelet events, testing players' adaptability across multiple formats.

What makes Badugi distinctive is the interaction between ranks and suits. A "badugi" (a qualifying four-card hand) requires all four cards to have different suits AND different ranks. Having two hearts, for example, means you can only count one of them—your best three cards determine your hand. This creates a unique strategic landscape where drawing decisions balance probability, deception, and position.

Badugi Hand Rankings: Understanding the System

Badugi uses a hand ranking system found nowhere else in poker. Understanding this system is fundamental before playing a single hand, as intuitions from traditional poker will mislead you.

The Core Badugi Principles

Aces are always low. In Badugi, an Ace counts as the lowest possible card (value of 1). Unlike high poker or games where Aces can be high, Badugi Aces are exclusively low, making them the most valuable cards in the deck.

Four different suits are required for a "badugi." A true badugi hand has one club, one diamond, one heart, and one spade. If any two cards share a suit, you lose one card from your hand evaluation. This is called "counterfeiting."

No pairs allowed. If you have two cards of the same rank (like two 5s), one is counterfeited. Only unpaired cards count toward your hand.

Fewer cards always lose. Any four-card badugi beats any three-card hand. Any three-card hand beats any two-card hand. The number of usable cards trumps everything else.

Hands are compared from highest card down. When two hands have the same number of cards, compare from the highest card downward. A-2-3-4 badugi beats A-2-3-5 badugi because the 4 is lower than the 5 in the final position.

Hand Strength Hierarchy

The best possible Badugi hands, from strongest to weakest categories:

• Four-Card Badugis (Best): A-2-3-4 rainbow is the nuts. A-2-3-5, A-2-3-6, A-2-4-5 follow. Any four-card badugi beats all three-card hands.
• Three-Card Hands: When you have a pair or two suited cards, you count only three. A-2-3 (three-card) is excellent but loses to K-Q-J-T badugi.
• Two-Card Hands: Two pairs or significant suit duplication reduces you to two cards. A-2 (two-card) beats K-Q (two-card), but any three-card hand beats you.
• One-Card Hands (Worst): Extremely rare—three of a kind or three suited cards leave you with just one usable card.

Hand Reading Examples

Understanding how to evaluate hands correctly prevents costly mistakes:

Example 1: A♣ 3♦ 5♥ 7♠ — This is a "seven badugi" (four-card hand). All suits differ, all ranks differ. Very strong.

Example 2: A♣ 2♦ 4♦ 6♠ — You have two diamonds, so one is counterfeited. This becomes a three-card hand: A♣ 2♦ 6♠ (the 4♦ is ignored since 2♦ is better). This three-card 6-2-A loses to any badugi.

Example 3: 2♣ 2♦ 5♥ 8♠ — The pair of 2s means one is counterfeited. This becomes: 2♦ 5♥ 8♠ (three-card eight-high). Still loses to any four-card hand.

Example 4: A♣ 3♣ 5♣ 7♠ — Three clubs means only one counts. This is a two-card hand: A♣ 7♠. Extremely weak despite holding an Ace.

The Pagat card games reference provides additional examples and edge cases for Badugi hand evaluation, including tie-breaking scenarios.

How Badugi is Played: Game Flow

Badugi follows a triple-draw format similar to 2-7 Triple Draw, featuring blinds, four betting rounds, and three opportunities to exchange cards. The structure creates significant action and strategic depth.

Blinds and Initial Deal

Like Hold'em, Badugi uses a rotating dealer button with small and big blinds. In a $2/$4 game, the small blind posts $1 and the big blind posts $2. All players then receive four cards face-down—their starting hand.

The player to the left of the big blind acts first, with options to fold, call the big blind, or raise. Action proceeds clockwise until all remaining players have equal money in the pot.

First Draw

After the pre-draw betting round completes, remaining players may exchange cards. Starting with the player to the dealer's left, each player announces how many cards they want to discard (zero to four). Discarded cards are replaced from the deck.

"Standing pat" (drawing zero cards) signals a made hand—a complete badugi or a strong three-card hand the player believes can win. Drawing one typically indicates a three-card hand with one card to improve. Drawing two or more suggests the hand is still developing.

The number of cards opponents draw provides critical information. A player who stands pat likely has a badugi. Someone drawing one has three cards they're keeping. This information shapes all future decisions.

Second Betting Round and Second Draw

After the first draw, another betting round occurs. In fixed-limit Badugi, bets remain at the small bet increment ($2 in a $2/$4 game). The player to the dealer's left acts first if still in the hand.

Following betting, the second draw allows another exchange. Players can change how many cards they draw based on what they caught and what opponents appear to have. A player who drew one and caught a brick (bad card) might now draw one or two.

Third Betting Round and Final Draw

The betting increment doubles after the second draw. In $2/$4 Badugi, bets become $4. This is where pots grow significantly and mistakes become expensive.

The third and final draw offers the last chance to improve. After this draw, there's one more betting round at the higher increment before showdown. Players who made their badugis bet for value; those who missed must decide whether to bluff or surrender.

Showdown

If multiple players remain after final betting, hands are revealed. The player with the best (lowest) qualifying badugi wins. If no player has a four-card badugi, the best three-card hand wins. Ties split the pot.

Starting Hand Selection in Badugi

Pre-draw hand selection in Badugi differs from all other poker variants. The interaction between suits and ranks creates unique evaluation criteria that players must internalize.

Premium Starting Hands

Made badugis: Being dealt a four-card badugi pre-draw is rare but powerful. Any made badugi—even a rough one like 8-9-T-J rainbow—has significant value since you can stand pat immediately. Lower badugis (7 or better) are extremely strong.

Smooth three-card hands: Starting with three low rainbow cards (different suits) plus one card that pairs or suits, giving you a strong draw. Examples: A♣ 2♦ 4♥ 4♠ (three-card A-2-4 drawing one to a badugi) or A♣ 2♦ 3♦ 7♠ (three-card A-2-7, drawing one for a badugi with the 3 as backup).

Four-card smooth draws: Hands like A♣ 2♦ 3♥ K♠ have four different suits and draw one card to potentially make excellent badugis. These hands have equity against pat hands and dominate other drawing hands.

Playable Hands

Rough three-card hands: Three rainbow cards where the highest is 6-8 range are playable but not premium. A-3-7 rainbow with a paired card is worth entering if the price is right.

Two-card smooth draws with potential: Hands like A♣ 2♦ plus two cards that pair or suit have long-term potential but need significant improvement. Play cautiously and fold to heavy action.

Hands to Fold

Three or more suited cards: Starting with three hearts and one spade leaves you with a two-card hand at best. The odds of making a badugi are terrible.

Multiple pairs: Two pairs or trips devastate your hand. Fold immediately.

High three-card hands: A three-card hand like 7-9-Q rainbow is too rough to develop into a competitive badugi. Even if you make a four-card hand, it's likely to be dominated.

Understanding starting hand strength connects directly to position. The concepts from traditional poker hand rankings don't apply directly, but the principle of playing tighter in early position and looser in late position remains valid.

Draw Strategy: When to Stand Pat, Draw One, or Draw More

Badugi's draw decisions are its strategic heart. Each draw round offers choices that compound across the hand, making early decisions particularly impactful.

Standing Pat (Drawing Zero)

With a badugi: If you have any four-card badugi, standing pat is almost always correct. Even a rough badugi (8-9-T-K rainbow) beats any drawing hand that doesn't get there. The exception is when you have a very rough badugi (T-J-Q-K) against multiple opponents who appear to have smooth draws—but this is rare.

As a bluff (snow): "Snowing" means standing pat with a three-card hand, representing a badugi you don't have. This works best against a single opponent who's drawing, especially if you have a strong three-card hand (like A-2-3) that can win at showdown anyway. Snowing against multiple opponents or those who might call with any badugi is unprofitable.

Drawing One

Drawing one signals a three-card hand. Your opponents know you're one card from a badugi. The quality of your three-card hand matters enormously—A-2-3 drawing one has far more equity than 6-7-8 drawing one.

When drawing one, consider: (1) How many cards of your missing suit remain available? (2) What ranks help you without pairing? If you hold A♣ 2♦ 4♥ and need a spade, any non-Ace, non-2, non-4 spade completes your badugi. That's 10 cards from a 48-card stub (roughly 20% per draw).

Drawing Two or More

Drawing two typically means you have a two-card hand or an especially weak three-card hand where you're discarding your highest card along with the counterfeited one. This is a weak position but sometimes necessary with promising two-card cores (like A-2).

Drawing three or four cards is almost never correct after the initial deal. If your hand is this weak, folding is preferable unless you're in the blinds facing minimal action. The probability of making a competitive badugi from scratch is too low to justify the betting rounds ahead.

Changing Your Draw Between Rounds

A key Badugi skill is adapting draw decisions based on results. If you drew one, caught a brick (a paired or suited card), and face a pat opponent, folding may be correct despite your previous investment. Alternatively, if you drew two and caught perfect, you might stand pat on the next round despite entering as a clear underdog.

The expected value calculator concepts apply here: each decision should maximize expected value based on current information, not sunk costs from earlier streets.

Position Play in Badugi

Position advantages in Badugi mirror other poker variants: acting last provides information before committing chips. However, the draw mechanics add unique positional considerations.

Early Position Disadvantages

In early position, you act first in betting AND drawing. Opponents see your draw count before deciding their own, giving them information you lack. If you draw one, a late-position opponent with a rough badugi knows you're likely behind but drawing live. They can size their bets accordingly.

Play tighter from early position. Enter only with premium three-card hands or made badugis. Marginal draws become unprofitable when opponents can adjust to your actions.

Late Position Advantages

Acting last allows you to: (1) See how many cards opponents draw before deciding your bet. (2) Potentially bluff when the player drawing shows weakness. (3) Control pot size by checking behind or value betting as appropriate.

From the button or cutoff, you can profitably play more starting hands. Rough three-card hands become playable. Two-card hands with premium low cards (A-2 or A-3) might be worth a speculative call to see the first draw cheaply.

Blind Defense

Defending blinds in Badugi requires balancing pot odds against positional disadvantage. With a reasonable three-card hand facing a single raise, calling and seeing the first draw is often correct. However, three-betting from the blinds should be reserved for premium holdings since you'll be out of position for the entire hand.

Reading Opponents: Draw Tells and Patterns

Badugi offers more readable information than many poker variants due to the draw mechanics. Observant players can deduce opponent hand strength from draw patterns and betting sequences.

Interpreting Draw Counts

Standing pat: Opponent almost certainly has a badugi. The question is whether it's smooth (A-5 or better) or rough (8+). Betting patterns and how confidently they pat help distinguish.

Drawing one: Opponent has a three-card hand. Their pre-draw betting reveals quality—a raise likely indicates a smooth draw (A-2-3 or similar), while a call might be a marginal draw (5-6-7).

Drawing two: Opponent has a weak two-card hand or is starting fresh. They're unlikely to make a strong badugi and can often be pressured out.

Changing Draw Patterns

Pay close attention when opponents change their draw count between rounds. A player who drew one, then stands pat, almost certainly made their badugi. A player who stood pat then suddenly draws is extremely suspicious—possibly a failed snow now scrambling.

Someone who drew two, then one, then pat likely made their badugi on the final draw. Their hand is probably rough since they started weak, but it's still a badugi.

Betting Line Analysis

Combine draw information with betting patterns. A player who raises pre-draw, stands pat, and bets aggressively likely has a made badugi. The same player who raises, draws one, misses, and suddenly slows down is showing weakness that can be exploited.

The psychological elements of poker discussed in resources like the Two Plus Two forums apply strongly in Badugi—player tendencies, timing tells, and bet sizing all reveal information.

Badugi in Mixed Games: 8-Game and Beyond

Badugi appears most commonly in mixed-game formats, particularly 8-Game (which rotates through eight poker variants). Understanding Badugi within this context is essential for tournament and high-stakes mixed-game play.

The 8-Game Rotation

8-Game typically includes: No-Limit Hold'em, Pot-Limit Omaha, Limit 2-7 Triple Draw, Limit Badugi, Limit Razz, Limit Stud, Limit Stud Hi-Lo, and Limit Hold'em (or variations thereof). Badugi shares the draw game category with 2-7 Triple Draw but uses completely different hand rankings.

According to WSOP's 8-Game guide, the mixed format tests complete poker skills, rewarding players who excel across all variants rather than specialists in a single game. Badugi punishes players who fail to adapt their thinking from the previous game.

Common Mixed-Game Mistakes in Badugi

Players transitioning from other games make predictable errors. Watch for opponents who seem confused by which suits are in their hand (visible hesitation when drawing), overvalue high-card hands (forgetting low is good), or play too many starting hands (not adjusting to Badugi's tighter requirements).

When rotating from games like Razz where suits don't matter, consciously remind yourself: "Suits are critical. Check all four suits." Mistakes from mental inertia cost chips.

Strategic Differences from 2-7 Triple Draw

Both games share the triple-draw structure, but the hand rankings differ entirely. In 2-7 Triple Draw, you want five low cards with 7-5-4-3-2 being the nut low; suits are irrelevant. In Badugi, you want four low rainbow cards with A-2-3-4 being the nuts; suits are essential.

Players who excel at 2-7 must recalibrate for Badugi—the "fifth card doesn't matter" concept from 2-7 doesn't apply, and missing a suit is catastrophic in Badugi while irrelevant in 2-7.

Advanced Badugi Concepts

Beyond basic strategy, several advanced concepts separate competent Badugi players from experts.

Card Removal Effects

Unlike Hold'em where your cards affect what opponents can hold, Badugi's draw structure limits card-counting benefits. However, in heads-up pots, tracking discards provides information. If you discarded an Ace, there are fewer Aces available for your opponent to catch.

In multi-way pots where multiple players draw multiple cards, the deck composition shifts significantly. Accounting for this complexity approaches the limits of human calculation in real-time.

Snowing and Counter-Snowing

"Snowing" (patting without a badugi) is a high-level bluff that works against observant opponents who respect pat hands. The key is timing: snow when heads-up against a drawing opponent, when your three-card hand can win if called, and when opponent's range includes weak badugis they might fold.

Counter-snowing involves calling a suspicious pat player with a marginal badugi or strong three-card hand. If someone who drew twice then suddenly stands pat represents a badugi, they're often snowing—calling with any made hand is profitable.

Breaking Hands

In rare situations, breaking a made badugi to draw to a better one is correct. If you hold 2♣ 4♦ 7♥ K♠ (a rough King badugi) early against an aggressive opponent who's patting a smooth badugi, drawing one (discarding the King) might offer better expected value than standing pat with a hand likely to lose at showdown.

This advanced play requires accurate opponent reading and mathematical understanding. Most players should default to patting any badugi until they've developed strong hand-reading skills.

Common Badugi Mistakes to Avoid

New Badugi players make predictable errors. Recognizing these mistakes accelerates learning.

Playing Too Many Starting Hands

With four cards dealt, every hand feels like it has potential. Resist this temptation. Rough three-card hands and two-card hands are losing propositions in multi-way pots. Fold more than you play until you understand hand values deeply.

Forgetting Suit Counterfeiting

Under time pressure, players sometimes miscalculate their hand by forgetting a suited duplication. Carefully check all four suits before making decisions. That A♣ 2♣ 4♦ 6♠ hand is not a badugi—it's a three-card A-4-6.

Overvaluing Rough Badugis

A 9-T-J-Q badugi beats drawing hands but often loses to better badugis. Players sometimes treat any badugi as the nuts, calling or raising when they're actually behind. Recognize that rough badugis have showdown value against draws but fold to aggression from smooth badugi ranges.

Chasing with Dominated Draws

If you're drawing to a 7-badugi and your opponent pats what appears to be a 5-badugi, your draw has almost no value. Even if you make your hand, you lose. Recognize when you're "drawing dead" against likely opponent holdings and save chips.

Snowing at Inappropriate Times

Snowing feels clever but loses money against calling stations or in multi-way pots. Reserve snowing for heads-up situations against opponents who will fold marginal badugis. Against someone who calls with any four-card hand, patting your three-card hand is lighting money on fire.

Comparing Badugi to Other Lowball Games

Understanding how Badugi relates to other lowball variants helps players with diverse poker backgrounds adapt more quickly.

Badugi vs. Razz: Both are lowball games where the lowest hand wins, but the similarities end there. Razz uses five cards from a seven-card stud structure; suits are completely irrelevant. Badugi uses four cards from a draw structure where suits are critical. Razz uses A-to-5 rankings where A-2-3-4-5 is the nuts; Badugi uses a unique system where A-2-3-4 rainbow is the nuts.

Badugi vs. 2-7 Triple Draw: Both are triple-draw lowball games with similar betting structures. However, 2-7 uses five cards with Deuce-to-Seven rankings (7-5-4-3-2 is the nut low, straights and flushes count against you). Badugi uses four cards where suits must differ. The strategic considerations diverge significantly despite the shared draw structure.

Badugi vs. Omaha Hi-Lo: Omaha Hi-Lo uses A-to-5 low rankings for the low half (like Razz), but it's a community card game, not a draw game. The skills transfer between lowball games conceptually—understanding low hand development—but the mechanics are entirely different.

For players learning Badugi from a Hold'em background, the biggest adjustment is recognizing that suits fundamentally determine hand strength. In Hold'em, suits only matter for flush potential; in Badugi, suits are everything.

Badugi Mathematics: Probability and Outs

Understanding the probability of making hands helps with draw decisions and pot odds calculations.

Probability of Making a Badugi

When drawing one card to a three-card rainbow hand, you need to catch a card that: (1) is the missing suit, (2) doesn't pair your existing cards. For a hand like A♣ 2♦ 4♥, you need a spade that isn't an Ace, 2, or 4. That's 10 outs from approximately 48 unseen cards (roughly 21% per draw).

Over three draws, the cumulative probability of hitting at least once is roughly 50% (not exact due to replacement effects). This means drawing one card gives you nearly coinflip equity to make your badugi by showdown.

Pot Odds and Drawing Decisions

Apply the concepts from our pot odds calculator to Badugi draws. If the pot offers 4:1 and you're getting roughly 20% to make your badugi on the next draw, you're getting correct odds to call. Factor in implied odds from future betting rounds when your draw connects.

Card Depletion Considerations

In multi-way pots, cards get depleted as opponents draw. If three players each draw two cards, that's six fewer cards available for your draw. While tracking specific cards is impractical, recognize that your odds worsen slightly in multi-way action where the deck thins faster.

Learning Resources for Badugi

Badugi instruction is less abundant than Hold'em or Omaha content, but quality resources exist for dedicated learners.

Books and Written Material

The Card Player Magazine archives contain tournament reports and strategy discussions featuring Badugi in mixed-game contexts. While dedicated Badugi books are rare, chapters in mixed-game strategy books cover the essential concepts.

Online Practice

PokerStars and other major online sites offer Badugi tables, though traffic is considerably lower than mainstream games. Micro-stakes practice allows learning the mechanics without significant financial exposure. Many sites also offer Badugi as part of mixed-game rotations.

Home games provide excellent Badugi practice environments. The game works well with small groups, and the unusual rules generate discussion that reinforces learning. Including Badugi in home game rotations exposes all players to the format gradually.

Training Approach

Start by playing Badugi at the lowest stakes available until hand reading becomes automatic. Focus on: (1) correctly evaluating your hand strength, (2) interpreting opponent draw patterns, (3) understanding position value, (4) recognizing when you're drawing live versus dead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Responsible Gaming Reminder

Badugi, like all poker variants, combines skill with chance. When played for money, financial risk is inherent. The strategies in this guide improve decision-making but cannot eliminate variance—even optimal play produces losing sessions due to card distribution.

If you play Badugi for stakes, set strict loss limits before each session and respect them. Never chase losses or play beyond your comfortable bankroll. For support with gambling-related concerns, the National Council on Problem Gambling offers confidential resources at 1-800-522-4700.

Badugi can be enjoyed without financial stakes through play-money sites, home games with chips, or as an intellectual exercise. The strategic puzzle of navigating draws, reading opponents, and managing suits remains engaging regardless of stakes.