巴杜吉

What is Badugi?

Badugi is a draw poker variant that originated in Korea and has gained popularity in mixed games worldwide. It uses a standard 52-card deck, and the goal is to create the lowest possible four-card hand with no duplicate ranks and no duplicate suits. Straights and flushes do not affect hand strength; only pairs and suitedness matter. Aces are always low, making the best possible hand A-2-3-4 of four different suits.

Gameplay

Each player is dealt four cards face down, followed by a betting round. Then, a drawing round occurs where players may discard any number of their cards (from zero to four) and draw the same number from the deck. After the draw, a second betting round takes place, and if more than one player remains, a showdown determines the winner. Some variations include multiple draws (e.g., triple draw Badugi) but the standard is a single draw.

Hand Rankings

Hands are ranked first by the number of useful cards (cards that are part of the best low hand), then by the high card. A "true Badugi" is a four-card hand with all different ranks and suits, e.g., A♠ 2♣ 3♥ 4♦. If no player has a true Badugi, the best hand is a three-card Badugi (e.g., A♠ 2♣ 3♥ 4♠ is a three-card hand because the 4♠ duplicates the suit of A♠? Wait: A♠ 2♣ 3♥ 4♠ has duplicate suit (spades), so the best three-card subset could be A♠ 2♣ 3♥ or A♠ 2♣ 4♠? Actually, each hand is evaluated by the best possible low hand using up to four cards, discarding any card that creates a duplicate rank or suit. So the hand A♠ 2♣ 3♥ 4♠ has three cards of different ranks and suits: e.g., A♠, 2♣, 3♥ (since 4♠ duplicates A♠ suit). The next best hand after four-card is three-card, then two-card, then one-card. The worst hand is four of a kind or all same suit, which counts as a one-card hand. When comparing hands of the same number of cards, the highest card is compared first, then second highest, etc. For example, a three-card hand with highest card 7 beats a three-card hand with highest card 8.

Strategy

Badugi strategy differs from other lowball games because of the suit constraint. Drawing to a low hand with no suit duplication is challenging. Players often discard high cards or cards that create suit conflicts. Bluffing is important because opponents cannot see your draws. Position is critical, and players in late position can draw more aggressively. A common mistake is to keep a low card that duplicates a suit, which reduces the chance of making a true Badugi. Understanding pot odds and the number of opponents is key to deciding whether to draw or fold.

Badugi is often included in mixed-game rotations in casinos and home games. Its unique hand rankings and drawing structure make it a refreshing change from traditional lowball games.