Badugi Strategy

I just discovered Badugi a bit ago and am wondering if others out there could share their strategies and experiences.

I have found it to be a very interesting game, but the 3 draws presents an element new to me. Possibly people have links to sites that present strategies that they might share.

Here is a discription/ rules for those who are not familiar with it:

Badugi is a four card variant of poker which is played in a very similar manner to triple draw. The aim is to draw the lowest possible hand, with no pairs or cards of the same suit, therefore the best Badugi hand is 432A with all cards being of differing suits (aces are low). Hands are also compared from higest to lowest, so a Badugi 7654 beats 832A, and a good rule of thumb is to only decide to progress a hand if you can draw to a 7-low or better. Having a good Badugi or drawing hand is the key to success, so drawing three or four cards per drawing phase is generally not a winning strategy. It can generally played in any of the limit, half-pot-limit, pot-limit and no-limit betting formats, although limit and half-pot limit appear to be more common. Strategy for each of these differs slightly and will dictate on how you play your hand, but the rest of the game structure is common to all formats. Format of the Game As in many variants, initially the small and big blind forced bets are placed before the deal. All players are then dealt four cards each, face down, that only they may observe and make a decision about whether to play. The first, pre-draw, round of betting then takes place beginning with the player in first position to the left of the big blind and rotating clockwise around the table. Each player must either call (matching the big blind), fold or raise as they see fit based on the stength of their hand. Once all players have either matched the largest bet or folded their hand, the first draw occurrs. Each player, starting with the small blind position and rotating clockwise, may discard anywhere between zero (known as standing pat) to all four cards from their hand and replace them cards drawn from the remaining deck. A second round of betting takes place where each remaining players may check, fold or bet until one player places the first bet, and then they may call, fold or raise until either everyone has matched the largest bet or folded their hand. There follows another draw and a third round of betting, then, the third and final draw phase occurs, followed by the fourth and final betting round. Once complete, if more than one player remains then all players reveal their hands for the showdown. If at any time there is only one player remaining in the hand uncontested, that player wins the pot. The Showdown The winning hand at the showdown generally consists of the four lowest cards, one of each suit, and without any of the same face value (that is, no pairs, trips, and so on). If there are no qualifying four card hands, three card hands are compared to find the winner. If there are no three card hands (a very rare occurance), two card hands are compared.

I'm interested too. The first time I played was on Carbon Poker and I remember only switching one card at a time. What a donkey! lol

yes, I try to play at that freeroll when I can. Actually someone here mentioned it and that was when I started playing it

I think it is a very cool game, tho I find it hard to play other tables/games wehn I'm tring to play badugi. Possibly because I am new at it. But it requires more interection with the 3 draws and betting each round.

Maybe I will see you in the freeroll : )

The only strategy I have figured out with badugi is to not call a big raise after the 2nd draw if you don't have the rainbow. Maybe if you have super lo cards and one off the badugi, but mostly not to mess with it.

I have recently started playing badugi on testpokerstars.

Very interesting game. I find the limit game to be more challenging than the no-limit.

You need to pay attention to how many other people are drawing and position is HUGH. (an nice bluff is if your opponents are all drawing 2 and you stand pat).

A few notes I have so far:
Starting hands must have 2 cards below 7 OR an ace.
If you have to draw 2 on your second draw, Usually don't call a bet. And if someone stands pat on the 2nd draw proceed very cautiously.
If you have a 3 card A23 badugi (maybe up to A35?)at showdown and your opponent draws on the 3rd draw it is usually worth a bet even if you miss, or a call if they bet.
betting patterns are important to follow.

I would be interested in seeing some other peoples thoughts on badugi.

For the visually challenged




Badugi is a four card variant of poker which is played in a very similar manner to triple draw. The aim is to draw the lowest possible hand, with no pairs or cards of the same suit, therefore the best Badugi hand is 432A with all cards being of differing suits (aces are low). Hands are also compared from higest to lowest, so a Badugi 7654 beats 832A, and a good rule of thumb is to only decide to progress a hand if you can draw to a 7-low or better. Having a good Badugi or drawing hand is the key to success, so drawing three or four cards per drawing phase is generally not a winning strategy. It can generally played in any of the limit, half-pot-limit, pot-limit and no-limit betting formats, although limit and half-pot limit appear to be more common. Strategy for each of these differs slightly and will dictate on how you play your hand, but the rest of the game structure is common to all formats. Format of the Game As in many variants, initially the small and big blind forced bets are placed before the deal. All players are then dealt four cards each, face down, that only they may observe and make a decision about whether to play. The first, pre-draw, round of betting then takes place beginning with the player in first position to the left of the big blind and rotating clockwise around the table. Each player must either call (matching the big blind), fold or raise as they see fit based on the stength of their hand. Once all players have either matched the largest bet or folded their hand, the first draw occurrs. Each player, starting with the small blind position and rotating clockwise, may discard anywhere between zero (known as standing pat) to all four cards from their hand and replace them cards drawn from the remaining deck. A second round of betting takes place where each remaining players may check, fold or bet until one player places the first bet, and then they may call, fold or raise until either everyone has matched the largest bet or folded their hand. There follows another draw and a third round of betting, then, the third and final draw phase occurs, followed by the fourth and final betting round. Once complete, if more than one player remains then all players reveal their hands for the showdown. If at any time there is only one player remaining in the hand uncontested, that player wins the pot. The Showdown The winning hand at the showdown generally consists of the four lowest cards, one of each suit, and without any of the same face value (that is, no pairs, trips, and so on). If there are no qualifying four card hands, three card hands are compared to find the winner. If there are no three card hands (a very rare occurance), two card hands are compared.

The only tip I have found so far is it is a VERY bluff friendly game so far

I played some more Badugi last night at testpokerstars.

There were some really good players on there, especially for being a play money test site.

I even played a while with Fossilman the other day, and yes with play money.

I guess there are not many sites that have it that accept US players.

Some notes:

If you play Limit choose your bluffs carefully. Most of the time you will be called. If you have a good hand bet every possible chance. People call you with a K high 4 badugi and a 3 badugi a lot.
If you have a poor badugi (T8xx or worse) only call don't raise an aggressor. Also if 2 other people get in a raising battle consider folding.
A lot of this game depends on opponents. The only information you have is your cards (and what you discarded), your bets, and their calls/bets/raises.

So what do you guys think? Am I being too conservative? too aggressive? from this post and my last one. Anyone else trying to learn this game?

I know most casino's that spread this game offer limit or half pot limit (first time I heard of half pot limit).

Carbon has a Badugi freeroll everyday. Make some real money.

Your strategies are rock solid, IM(very)HO. I too, like a semi-solid bet on a low 3-card if your opponent is drawing on round #3. The odds are way in your favor. If he caught, you'll likely have to fold to a reraise, or at worst, lose the hand. And I agree with deadhxc. It's very bluff friendly. For some reason, I find myself more aggressive with badugi than at holdem. I've come in 2nd & 3rd at Carbon freeroll. Try it, a lot of weak players there - I might even be one of them.

Playing for the first time now. I had just uninstalled the test site because there was nothing to do on it before I read this thread.

Where is the badugi free roll on carbon poker?

I can't believe you dug up this thread after 2 & 1/2 months. Welcome to Cardschat! I just busted out of there a few minutes ago. Raised w/a 9-high Badugi, and this guy catches for a 6 high. Oh well. Anyway, it's 4:15 EST, registration opens 2 hours before, but you usually have over an hour to get in.

Attached Images

badugi lobby.JPG (121.3 KB, 22 views)