Badeucy

Context: Term article: Badeucy

Overview

Badeucy is a common mixed game found in poker rooms, combining [Badugi] and Deuce-to-Seven Triple Draw. Players alternate between the two lowball games each hand, typically played with a Limit or Pot-Limit structure. The goal is to make the best low hand according to the current round’s rules and win the pot.

Game Rules

Hand Rotation

• Before each hand begins, the dealer announces whether the current round is a “Badugi round” or a “2-7 round.”
• The two rounds alternate. For example: the first hand is Badugi, the second hand is 2-7, the third hand returns to Badugi, and so on.

Badugi Round Rules

• Each player receives four pocket cards. The goal is to form a hand with four cards of different suits and different ranks, with Aces low. Hand rankings: more cards is better (four is best); when the number of cards is equal, compare the highest card (A-2-3-4 is the best). Ties split the pot.
• Drawing: one draw is allowed. Players may discard any number of cards and draw back to four.

2-7 Triple Draw Round Rules

• Each player receives five pocket cards. The goal is the lowest 2-7 hand (Aces are high). The best hand is 2-3-4-5-7, offsuit. Straights and flushes count as high hands.
• Drawing: up to three drawing rounds. Each time, players may discard zero to five cards and draw replacements.

Betting Flow

• There is a betting round before each draw, typically starting to the left of the dealer. In limit versions, bet sizes are fixed; in pot-limit versions, the betting cap is the current pot size.

Strategy Points

• In Badugi rounds, holding two high cards often requires quick discarding; focus on low cards and mixed suits.
• In 2-7 rounds, the best starting hands are like 2-3-4-5-7, but watch out for straight possibilities. With multiple draws, semi-bluffing (drawing) can be used to confuse opponents.
• Due to the rotation rule, players must flexibly adjust their hand evaluation criteria.

Common Settings

Badeucy often appears in high-stakes mixed game cash games (e.g., the high-stakes tables at Bellagio in Las Vegas) and in mixed events at the WSOP series.