What makes a valid Badugi?
A complete Badugi has four cards with different suits and different ranks. Ace plays low. Repeated suits or ranks force you to exclude cards, potentially leaving only three, two or one valid card.
Compare valid card count before ranks
Any four-card Badugi beats a three-card hand; three cards beat two. With equal card counts, compare from the highest rank downward: lower is better.
Draws and action
Common Badugi has three draws and four betting rounds. Players may keep all cards or replace selected ones. Betting limits, blinds and special dealing procedures follow the table's rules.
Worked example: count the usable cards first
Original teaching example: A holds A♠, 2♠, 2♥ and 3♦. The two spades cannot both play, and neither can both twos. Selecting A♠, 2♥ and 3♦ retains three different ranks and three suits: a three-card 3-2-A. The 2♠ does not enter the final comparison.
B holds K♣, Q♦, J♥ and 9♠: four different ranks and all four suits, forming a complete Badugi. Despite containing a king, B beats A’s three-card hand. Compare the number of usable cards first, then compare ranks only when that number is equal. A’s ace alone does not make A the winner.
Worked example: equal top cards, compare the next rank
In a separate teaching example, A holds 8♠, 5♥, 3♦ and A♣; B holds 8♥, 6♣, 2♦ and A♠. Both have a complete four-card Badugi. Write their ranks from highest to lowest: A has 8-5-3-A; B has 8-6-2-A.
Both top cards are eights, so compare the second rank: five is lower than six. A wins, and the comparison stops there; B’s lower deuce cannot change the result. If every usable rank is equal, split under the applicable rules. Excluded cards and suit order do not break that tie.
Rules may vary between platforms, tables and events. This guide explains common rules; available games, eligibility and dispute procedures are determined by the platform's official announcements.
Keep exploring
This guide was independently compiled in Chinese. The following sources let you verify the rules.
WSOP 2026 Official Tournament Rules(new window)Washington State Gambling Commission: Badugi Rules(new window)