"Learn How To Play Badugi With Confidence"

Want to discover how to play badugi? This page looks at what you should understand before playing the game.


Before each deal the cards require a good shuffle. After shuffling the cards, the small and big blinds are posted. Time for the deal.


The deal starts at the small blind. Cards are dealt clockwise around the table, with all players getting one card at a time. All players should hold four cards when the deal is done.

If all players have four cards, the 1st betting round can begin.

1st betting round starts with the first player clockwise from the big blind. Betting goes clockwise around the table. You’ll have the option to …

· raise the bet

· fold their cards

· or call the bet

This is a must in knowing how to play badugi. Always be aware of your options before action gets to you. It helps the game move faster and opponents take notice that you know what you’re doing. They’ll see you’re a force to be reckoned with!

After the 1st betting round, there is a discard round.

The 1st discard round. The discard always starts with first player clockwise from the button. When you want to discard …

· place the cards you don’t want in front of you

· dealer will take those cards and state how many you are discarding

· then give you an equal amount of cards

The dealer will burn the top card of the deck before giving out new cards. The discarded cards need to be kept separate from the muck pile. After the discard round, the discard pile gets put in with the muck pile.

Why is this important in how to play badugi?

This is important because you don’t want to get a card that you just discarded.

If the dealer runs out of cards in the deck, they shuffle the muck pile and give you new cards from the muck pile.

Once all players discard and have new cards there is a second betting round.


2nd betting round. Betting round always starts at the first player clockwise from the button. In this, the third and the fourth betting round, your options are to …

· bet

· raise (if there is a bet)

· fold

· or call

After this betting round, there is a 2nd discard round.


3rd betting round is where the bet size doubles!

At this point you need a made hand to continue. Drawing when the bet size is doubled is hazardous to your …

· bankroll

· health

· and your sanity!

If you do have a made hand, apply the pressure. This is where knowing how to play badugi comes in handy.

If you think opponents have weaker cards than you, bet/raise.

Punish their chip stacks.

When the 3rd betting round is complete, there is a 3rd discard round.

It’s Important to take note of players who are still discarding and who is standing pat. Play aggressively against players still discarding. Play defensively against players that are pat, unless you have the nuts.

After the 3rd discard round there is a …



4th betting round. This is where you get as many chips for your good cards as possible. It’s also where you slow down if you think you got out-drawn.

When the 4th betting round is done, active players turn their cards face up on the table. The dealer reads each hand, determines a winner and pushes the pot.

Most of the time it should be to you!


Recap of how to play badugi.

· deal, you should see four cards

· 1st betting round, 1st discard

· 2nd betting round, 2nd discard

· 3rd betting round, 3rd discard

· 4th betting round, showdown

Now that you’ve learned how to play badugi, hit the tables and start winning pots!

Good luck!


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