iGaming Journalist & Crypto Casino Analyst· 5 min read
Badugi Rules — Four-Card Lowball Poker
Badugi is a unique lowball draw poker game where players receive four cards instead of five and must make a "rainbow" hand — all four cards in different suits and different ranks. With three draw rounds and a hand-ranking system found nowhere else in poker, Badugi rewards creative play and sharp hand reading in ways that set it apart from every other variant.
Game Setup and Blinds
Badugi uses a small blind and big blind structure. It is typically played with two to eight players and a standard 52-card deck. Like 2-7 Triple Draw, Badugi is almost always spread as a fixed-limit game with small bets in the first two rounds and big bets (double the small bet) in the last two rounds.
Each player receives four cards face down — not the usual five. This smaller hand size is what makes Badugi's rainbow requirement achievable. With five cards, getting four different suits and ranks would be far harder.
Aces are always low in Badugi, making them the most desirable card. The ace of any suit is the foundation of every premium starting hand. If you are coming from Five Card Draw or Hold'em, this reversal takes some adjustment.
How a Hand Plays Out
1. Pre-Draw Betting: After receiving four cards, the player to the left of the big blind acts first. Standard fold, call, and raise options apply at the small bet size.
2. First Draw: Each remaining player discards zero to four cards and receives replacements. Standing pat signals a made Badugi — or a well-timed bluff.
3. Second Betting Round + Second Draw: Another round of small bets, then a second draw. Players who missed their Badugi get another chance to complete it.
4. Third Betting Round + Third Draw: Bets increase to the big bet size. The final draw is the last opportunity to improve. Players must decide whether to break a made hand to chase a stronger one.
5. Final Betting + Showdown: A last round of big bets. Remaining players reveal their hands. The lowest Badugi wins. If no player holds a four-card Badugi, the best three-card hand takes the pot.
Understanding Badugi Hand Categories
Badugi hands are ranked first by how many usable cards they contain, then by the highest card within that category. A four-card Badugi always beats a three-card hand, regardless of the individual card values. When two cards share a suit or rank, the higher of the duplicate pair is discarded for ranking purposes.
| Category | Description | Ranking | Best Possible |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4-Card Badugi | All four cards are different suits and ranks | Best category — any Badugi beats any 3-card hand | A-2-3-4 rainbow |
| 3-Card Hand | Three usable cards; the fourth duplicates a suit or rank | Second category — beats all 2-card hands | A-2-3 (three different suits) |
| 2-Card Hand | Only two usable cards; two others duplicate suits or ranks | Third category — beats 1-card hands only | A-2 (two different suits) |
| 1-Card Hand | Only one usable card; extremely rare at showdown | Worst category — loses to everything else | A (single ace) |
Badugi Hand Rankings (Best to Worst)
Within the four-card Badugi category, hands are ranked by their highest card. Lower is better. Here are the top Badugi hands in order of strength.
| Rank | Hand | Strength | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | A-2-3-4 rainbow | Nuts | The best possible Badugi |
| #2 | A-2-3-5 rainbow | Premium | Second-best; extremely strong |
| #3 | A-2-4-5 rainbow | Premium | Third-best Badugi |
| #4 | A-3-4-5 rainbow | Premium | Fifth-low Badugi |
| #5 | 2-3-4-5 rainbow | Strong | Lowest without an ace |
| #6 | A-2-3-6 rainbow | Strong | Best six-high Badugi |
| #7 | A-2-3-7 rainbow | Good | Best seven-high Badugi |
| #8 | A-2-3-8 rainbow | Playable | Best eight-high Badugi |
| #9 | A-2-3-9 rainbow | Marginal | Best nine-high Badugi |
| #10 | Any T+ high Badugi | Weak | Still beats all 3-card hands |
Draw Strategy and Tips
Protect Made Badugis: Once you have a four-card Badugi, stand pat and bet for value. Even a rough Badugi (nine-high or ten-high) beats every three-card hand. Do not break a made Badugi unless you are confident opponents also have Badugis and yours is too weak to win.
Three-Card Draws: A strong three-card hand (like A-2-3 in three different suits) is a powerful starting point. You only need one card to complete your Badugi, and you have three draws to find it.
Two-Card Draws: Starting with only two usable cards means you need to hit twice. These hands are playable in late position at a passive table, but fold them under pressure or out of position.
Snowing: Like in 2-7 Triple Draw, standing pat with a bad hand and betting aggressively is a viable bluff. If your opponent is drawing two or more cards, standing pat puts maximum pressure on them. Use this tactic sparingly — experienced opponents will adjust.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Badugi?
A Badugi is a four-card hand where all four cards are different suits and different ranks. For example, A-2-3-4 with one card in each suit (clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades) is a Badugi. Any four-card Badugi beats any three-card hand.
Is an ace high or low in Badugi?
Aces are always low in Badugi, making them the most valuable card. The best possible Badugi is A-2-3-4 rainbow (one of each suit).
How does Badugi differ from 2-7 Triple Draw?
Both are triple-draw lowball games, but Badugi uses only four cards and requires all cards to be different suits (rainbow). In 2-7 Triple Draw, you use five cards, suits do not matter for qualification, and straights count against you. In Badugi, straights are irrelevant.
What happens if no player has a four-card Badugi?
The best three-card hand wins. If no one has a three-card hand, the best two-card hand wins, and so on. Hands are always compared by category first (4-card beats 3-card), then by highest card within the same category.