One of the more recent games poker players have adopted with relative enthusiasm is Badugi, spreading from the Us since around the year 2000, although it is believed to have originated in South Korea.
Otherwise known as Badougi, Padooki or Paduki, this game is probably the most recently invented of games poker fans are playing online and in cardrooms everywhere.
Games Poker Rooms are Offering
There are literally dozens of different variations of games poker fans are already playing all over the world. Some of the most populat games poker enthusiast are currently competing in are Texas Hold’Em, Omaha and Seven Card Stud.
As well as variations of these three games, there are also many other which are being regularly played. One of these games is the relatively new game Badugi.
A variant of draw poker which is quite similar to the triple draw games poker players seem to be quite fond off, this game has hand values not at all dissimilar to to the lowball games.
In principle, the game’s betting structure and general play are the same as in standard games poker players are used to, including the use of blinds. Unlike those traditional games, which entail at least five cards, however, Badugi players hold no more than four cards in their hand at any point.
As part of each draw round, players are able to trade in any, none or all of their cards for new ones of the deck, in order to create the best possible Badugi hand and consequently win the game, or the pot.
Games Poker Players Have Learnt – Badugi
Play in Badugi starts with each player receiving four cards, all of which are face down. Players now place a so-called pre-draw bet, starting with the player after the dealer (in the case of no blinds being used) or the big blind. Play continues clockwise and each player either calls, raises or folds.
As soon as everybody has had a chance to either place their bet or fold, the first draw begins with the first of the remaining players to the left hand side of the dealer. Here each player throws away as many of his dealt cards, and replaces them with fresh cards of the deck, as he chooses.
This is then followed by another round of betting, with another two rounds of draws and betting finally coming to the showdown, the end of the game after the fourth betting round.
If by this time only one player remains because all others have folded, this player wins. Should more than a single player remaiin, the cards in their hands are compared against each other and the best hand wins.
The ranking of cards on Badugi is different from rankings in traditional games poker players usually take part in. A hand usually consists of between one and four cards of distinct suits and ranks, so any duplicates of both suits and ranks are disregarded.
A full four card hand, consisting of one of each of the four suits and called a Badugi, will beat the lower three card hand, which beats the two card hand and so on.
Two hands consisting of equal numbers of cards are then evaluated according to the highest cards present in each, with aces counting as low. Similar to lowball, the superior hand is the one holding the lower card. In case of a tie, the next card don is compared. If values for all cards are equal, the game is tied.
Consequently, as suits are irrelevant, any A, two, three and four combination is the best possible Badugi hand. The worst ever Badugi hand would in theory be four Kings, although it would be pure bad luck to end up with this, as duplicated cards are usually discarded whenver possible.
Related posts:
Recently commented