Badugi (also known as Badougi or Padooki) is a draw poker variant believed to have originated in Asia and now taking the live poker world as well as online gambling by storm.

Badugi: a fresh new drive to set world poker for action

Badugi (also known as Badougi or Padooki) is a draw poker variant believed to have originated in Asia and now taking the live poker world as well as online gambling by storm. The game in itself is similar to tri card draw, but with hand values different from traditional poker. The overall play of the game is identical to a standard poker game, but unlike traditional poker which involves a minimum of five cards, players' hands contain only four cards at any one time. The object of Badugi is to win pots by forming the best badugi hand. Pot is the share of money put in by oneself and one's opponents during the hand. At the conclusion of the play (also known as showdown) the player with the combination of the highest value (badugi hand), who has not folded, appears to be the winner.

Low hand wins the game; with four cards each of a different suit and rank a player holds the best possible badugi hand that may be long enough to give him a victorious turn.

How the game commences and the dealing is started?

Each player is dealt 4 cards in a clockwise direction starting from the player on the Small Blind (required bet). Cards are dealt to each player one card at a time. Once everyone has their 4 cards the game commences with the player to the left of the Big Blind and then continues around the table in a clockwise direction.

Betting in Badugi

There are three main variations of Badugi Poker: a Limit game, a Pot Limit game or even a Half Pot Limit game. Starting with the game to choose, a player can develop a strategy that corresponds to the game version.

Limit Badugi

All bets are made in incremental units. On Rounds 1 and 2 a player can bet the lower level bet (e.g. in a $2/$4 game the bet for Rounds 1 and 2 would be $2). On Rounds 3 and 4 players can bet the higher level bet (e.g. in a $2/$4 game the bet for rounds 3 and 4 would be $4).

Betting is capped at 4 bets per round as is standard in all limit games.

Pot Limit Badugi

In Pot Limit Badugi players can raise any amount at any stage, ranging from the minimum bet (i.e. the big blind amount) up to how much is already in the pot. E.g. if the pot is comprised of the small blind($2), the big blind ($4), and one caller ($4), then the next active player can bet any amount from $4 up to the total value of the current pot (on top of his initial call), in this case the maximum bet would be $18. ($2 + $4 + $4 + $4).

All bettors can raise the pot by the total value of the current pot as it stands when it is their turn to act. So in Pot Limit Badugi there is no limit to the amount of betting allowed on any particular round, as opposed to it being capped in the Limit version.

Half Pot Limit Badugi

The same rules apply to Half Pot Limit Badugi as they do to Pot Limit Badugi. The only exception is that the maximum a player can raise is the value of half the current pot. E.g. if the pot is comprised of the small blind ($2), the big blind ($4), one caller ($4), the next player to act can bet any amount from $4 up to a maximum of $11. ($2 + $4 + $4 + $4 /2) = 7. So it would be a call of $4 and a raise of $7, making a total bet of $11. So in this case the player can bet any amount from $4 to $11.

Playing Badugi Poker

The game consists of three rounds after completion of which, the winner is determined at the game's showdown. First bet round: In this round the first player to act is the first participating player clockwise from the big blind. The player may fold, call, or raise. Each player in clockwise order is asked to bet, (call, raise, fold or check). Once everyone has had their turn and all bets are matched you move on to the First Draw.

First draw round: Players are offered the opportunity to draw zero to four cards, clockwise from the first participating seat to the left of the dealer button. Players select which cards to keep and which to replace through a draw. Drawing zero cards is known as 'Standing Pat'.

Second bet round: Once players have completed their first draws, the second betting round is held. Again, the bet increment uses the low stakes.

Second draw round: Same as first draw round.

Third bet round: Same as second bet round, only exception is that on this round the high stake is used for the betting increment.

Third draw round: Same as second draw round, applying reshuffle of discards as is necessary.

Final bet round: The final betting round follows the same rules, using the high stake and leads to a showdown if more than one player remains standing.

Showdown: It's time to show your hand and see who won. The winning player scoops the pot! The showdown rules follow those of Hold'em. In brief, the player whose last bet is called, if there is one, shows cards first. If there is no last aggressor, showdown begins from the first participant holding cards, clockwise from the dealer button. As hands are shown, players with losing hands may muck or show, similar to Hold'em options.

Winner: Once the showdown is complete the winner is announced and awarded the pot. Fingers crossed that player will be you!

P.S. Something to keep track of:

1. Side pots are accumulated and awarded just as they are in all other games.2. The lowest hand wins!

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