The 2024 World Series of Poker has come to its conclusion. As every summer, Las Vegas
has been home to 🔑 many less-known poker games for over a month. One such game is Badugi,
a fascinating and unique poker variant that 🔑 challenges players with its distinct rules
and strategies.
This article will delve into the game's intricacies, providing all the
information you 🔑 need to understand what Badugi is all about. This year's WSOP Champion
in theR$1,500 Limit Badugi - Michael Rodrigues - 🔑 won overR$144k for his efforts, so
there's definitely money to be made in niche games.
What are the origins of
Badugi?
Badugi 🔑 is a captivating form of poker that most likely originated in Asia and
soon after gained worldwide popularity. Unlike traditional 🔑 poker variations like Texas
Hold'em or Pot Limit Omaha, Badugi is a draw game played without community cards. Also,
unlike 🔑 Five Card Draw, every player receives four cards. The game's objective is to
create the lowest four-card hand possible, with 🔑 the added twist that players aim to
have four different suits and ranks.
The basic rules of Badugi:
The basic rules of
🔑 Badugi poker are:
Each player is dealt four private cards facing down.
The game
consists of four rounds of betting, similar to 🔑 other poker games.
For simplicity,
players often refer to the first betting round as pre-draw. Analogically, the second
betting round is 🔑 considered the flop; the third betting round is regarded as the turn,
and the last, fourth betting round, is called 🔑 a river - just like in No Limit
Hold'em.
Players can discard and replace any or all of their cards during 🔑 each round.
They can also choose not to replace any cards - such a move is known as "standing
pat".
The 🔑 goal of Badugi is to form the lowest hand possible, ideally with four cards
of different suits and ranks.
Straights and 🔑 flushes do not count, and aces are always
considered low.
Just like in most poker games, one player posts the Small 🔑 Blind, and
the player to their left posts the Big Blind.
The ultimate goal is to complete A-2-3-4,
with each card 🔑 of a different suit - a Royal Flush of this drawing game.
Understanding
the hand rankings
In Badugi, hand rankings differ from 🔑 traditional poker. The lowest
hand wins, and suits play a significant role in determining the strength of a hand.
Here 🔑 is a breakdown of the most common starting hands from strongest to
weakest:
Badugi: A hand with four cards of different 🔑 suits. For example, A♠ 2♦ 5♣
7♥.
Three-Card Hand: A hand with three cards of different suits. For example, 3♠ 7♦ 🔑 9♣
(X♣).
Two-Card Hand: A hand with two cards of different suits. For example, 6♠ 8♦
(X♦)(X♦).
One-Card Hand: A hand with 🔑 only one card. For example, A♠(Ax)(X♠)(X♠).
The
betting rounds
Badugi follows a structure similar to other poker games, with four
rounds of 🔑 betting. Here is an overview of the betting rounds in Badugi:
Pre-Flop: After
receiving their initial four cards, players place their 🔑 bets based on the strength of
their starting hand. Draw 1: Players can discard any number of their cards and 🔑 receive
replacements from the deck. The first betting round occurs after this draw. Draw 2: The
same process as Draw 🔑 1 occurs, with players having the opportunity to discard and
replace their cards once again. Draw 3: Following the final 🔑 draw, players have one more
chance to improve their hand before the final betting round.
Basic strategies for
success in Badugi
To 🔑 succeed in Badugi, it's essential to develop effective strategies
that take advantage of the unique aspects of the game. Luckily, 🔑 it's unlikely that
you'll encounter seasoned players on your path, so it'll be easy to develop a
significant edge quickly.
Here 🔑 are some essential tips to improve your Badugi
skills:
Aim for Badugi: When playing, strive to create a four-card Badugi - 🔑 hand with
different suits. Drawing for a great hand usually gives you a better chance of winning
than settling with 🔑 a bad hand.
Bet aggressively with strong hands: Whenever you
complete a strong Badugi hand, bet a lot. Remember that the 🔑 aim of any poker game is to
complete a strong hand and make your opponent pay to see it.
Observe your 🔑 opponents:
Pay attention to how many cards your opponents discard during each draw. This
information can provide valuable insights into 🔑 the strength of their hands.
Position
matters: Similar to other poker games, your position at the table is crucial. Being in
🔑 a late position allows you to make more informed decisions based on the actions of
other players, don't disregard that 🔑 advantage.
Bluff wisely: Bluffing can be effective
in Badugi but requires careful consideration. Choose the opponents you are going to
bluff 🔑 wisely.
Common mistakes to avoid when you play Badugi
To become a skilled Badugi
player, it's important to be aware of common 🔑 mistakes that can hinder your progress.
Here are some pitfalls to avoid:
Neglecting hand selection: Always strive for a Badugi
hand 🔑 rather than settling for weaker combinations. Avoid being too attached to hands
that do not meet this requirement.
Overvaluing suited hands: 🔑 While suits are crucial in
Badugi, be cautious to avoid overvaluing hands with cards of the same suit. Remember,
the 🔑 objective is to have four suits in your final hand.
Limping: Like in more popular
poker variants, limping is usually a 🔑 bad strategy in Badugi. If your hand is strong,
raise it; if it's weak, fold it.
Not folding versus aggression: In 🔑 most games, whenever
your opponents show strength, they usually have it. Don't be stubborn with mediocre
hands; focus on betting 🔑 when you have the goods yourself instead.
Ignoring pot odds:
Understanding pot odds is vital in any poker game. Make sure 🔑 to calculate your odds of
completing a Badugi hand and compare them to the size of the pot before making 🔑 any
significant bets.
A refreshing twist in a world of NL Hold'em and Pot Limit Omaha
With
its distinct rules and strategies, 🔑 Badugi offers a refreshing twist to poker players
obsessed with the most popular variants. It also does not require you 🔑 to study a lot -
you'll gain a significant edge in this niche game by grasping the basic rules and 🔑 hand
rankings and giving a moment of thought to your strategy.
If you'd like to try Badugi,
the best place to 🔑 go is PokerStars. You'll find small tournaments there running
daily.
Of course, PokerStars is best known for its No Limit Hold'em 🔑 offer, and there's
no better Hold'em format than Spin & Go's. Hundreds of our players will happily second
that but 🔑 don't take our word for it; check out our offer for yourself.
