Play online poker Mixed Games like Badugi at KKPoker now!

Badugi is a popular draw poker format where players start with four face-down hole cards and use no community cards.

This four-card lowball variant challenges players to make the best ‘Badugi’: four cards with no duplicate ranks or suits.

Your aim: four different suits, with the lowest possible cards, and no pairs.

Ace is low in Badugi and Straights are ignored; therefore, the best Badugi hand is 4-3-2-A (each card a different suit). Nickname: Badugi Wheel

“Badugi is one of the most fun poker Mixed Games you can play.” said KKPoker ambassador Jon Kyte.

HOW TO PLAY BADUGI?

Badugi features a pre-draw betting round, followed by a betting round after each card draw.

BLINDS

Pre-Draw Betting Round: Button, Small Blind and Big Blind are used. Each player is dealt four cards.

The player to the left of the Big Blind begins the pre-draw betting round, and the action continues clockwise following traditional poker betting.

Draw Betting Rounds: The active player to the left of the Button acts first, and the action continues clockwise.

CARD DRAWS

After the Pre-Draw betting round, players may discard up to four cards and draw replacements.

In a KKPoker Badugi game, tap the cards you want to discard, then tap the ‘Discard‘ button to confirm. Players can discard any number of cards or choose to discard zero cards by tapping the ‘Stand Pat‘ button.

There are three Card draw betting rounds before any remaining players must showdown their hands to win the pot.

BADUGI HAND RANKINGS

Important to remember in Badugi:

Ace is low.

When two or more cards share the same suit, only one card counts.

When two or more cards share the same value, only one card counts.

Straights do not apply.

A Badugi (four cards of different ranks and suits) beats any three-card, two-card or one-card hand, regardless of card values.

Here are the Badugi game hand rankings from strongest to weakest:

#1 BADUGI: Four different-value cards in four different suits.

Highest Badugi: 432A all different suits (4-high Badugi)

Lowest Badugi: KQJT all different suits (King-high Badugi)

#2 THREE-CARD HAND: Three different suits. Example: 3s 3c 2s Ad;

#3 TWO-CARD HAND: Two different suits. Example: 3c 3s 2c As; or 9c 8s 7s 6c

#4 ONE-CARD HAND: One-suit or one-value hands. Examples: 9d 8d 7d 6d; or As Ad Ah Ac

BADUGI TIPS

Remember, position and observation are key elements in most poker formats.

How does your opponent play from the Big Blind or Small Blind compared to when on the Button?

How many cards have they discarded, or did they stand pat?

Furthermore, what hands did they get to showdown with? Did your opponent try to bluff by standing pat in a previous draw round when they could have drawn to improve their hand?

All of this information and thought processes can be vital to greater success and enjoyment in a game like Badugi.

FAQ

What is a Badugi hand?

Four cards with no duplicate ranks or suits. Best: 432A.

Example: 4s 4c 2d Ah is not a Badugi because, although it features four different suits, it has a pair. Therefore, this is classed as a Three-Card hand (4c 2d Ah).

What does ‘Stand Pat’ mean?

It means drawing zero cards. You choose to keep all four cards in your hand instead of discarding and drawing replacements.

Are there split pots in Badugi?

Yes, split pots are possible in Badugi. For example, if multiple players held the same Badugi hand: 432A.

However, Badugi is not a ‘high-low’ game in which half the pot goes to the best high hand and half to the best low hand.

Is there a Flop in Badugi?

No, Badugi has no community cards or board (flop, turn, river).

Do discarded cards go back into the deck?

No, discarded cards do not go back into the drawing deck during the hand.

What other Draw Games are available to play on KKPoker?

A-5 Triple Draw and 2-7 Triple Draw