A newer game that has gained a lot of popularity at higher limits and online is badugi. Badugi is a four card triple-draw lowball game with a unique twist. The object to badugi is to get a four card hand containing one of each suit. This is a badugi hand. If multiple players have a made four card hand, then the lowest hand is the winner, with the aces playing as low only. A-2-3-4 badugi is the best possible hand. In the event that none of the players have a four card hand, then the player with the best three card hand wins the pot. There is a possibility that a two card hand or even the lowest single card could win the pot in rare instances. In most cases, a four card or three card hand will be a winning hand.

Play starts in badugi very similar to Holdem. The dealer is determined by a button and there is a small and big blind. After the blinds are posted, each player receives four cards face down. A betting round then ensues. Most badugi is played in limit format, but there are pot limit versions out there. In limit games, betting at the deal and after the first draw is done in the small bet amount.

After the first betting round is completed, players may then elect to exchange cards. A player may take up to four cards without penalty. If a player does not wish to exchange cards, he may stand pat. The only difference in rules is that after the 2nd and third draws, betting is done in the big bet amount in limit badugi. Otherwise, the same rules apply for all three drawing rounds.

After the third draw, a last betting round occurs and then the remaining players show their hand. First, you need to look for badugi hands. If only one player has a badugi, he wins. If more than one player has a badugi, then the player with the best badugi wins. In the case of a tie, the pot is split.

If no player holds a badugi, you move on to looking for three card hands. In many cases, if nobody has a badugi, they will have a three card hand. The player with the best three card hand will win the pot in many cases were there is not a badugi. However, for sake of completeness, there are times where you might be heads up and neither player has a three card hand. In this case, move on to two card hands. If by some weird chance you have two players that have drawn three times and not managed even a one card hand, then the player with the lowest card wins.

As you may have gathered from the rules above, badugi can tend to be a gamblers game. If you have someone that likes a lot of action, then badugi may be something they should check out. At the same time, a player that doesn’t at least try and play with a relatively solid strategy will in many cases just donate to the table. With its ever increasing popularity, badugi is a game that has a bright future and should stay as a major stable of lowball poker for a long time to come.