After its first few appearances at Poker Stars, Badugi took off like a bat out of hell in the popularity stakes. It is an exception form of lowball poker and playing demands something of a change in thinking. While you may be used to playing low-ball from playing in Hi-Lo games or simply Lo games, Badugi demands another set of thinking skills. You have to get a “Badugi” which is a four card hand, each card of a different suit.
The origins of the game seem to come from South Korea and it has been popularly played there since the 1960′s. Presently Paul “Eskimo” Clark claims he invented the game. While poker experts are agreeing that he was responsible for its introduction to the US – he brought it back after serving in Vietnam, it is suspect that he actually invented the game.
There is a cute story that the game is named after the Korean words for “Spotted dog” but apparently there is no such word (perhaps this is a bluff?). There is a Korean cartoon character named Paldugi, and the chance of him being named after the card game is more likely than the card game being named after him. When Baldugi was introduced to Vegas and featured there, it was written up on boards as Paldugi or Padooki.
The first phase draw of this game is where the player first makes use of strategy, and at this stage to have a starting hand you should have at least three cards of differing suits of 7 and below. If a player is standing pat and does not take the draw, and you don’t have this starting hand – don’t waste any money on it; fold!
By the time the second phase draw takes place, it is to be hoped you have three different suits and cards below 7, if not, fold if anyone is standing pat. Unless you know them to be a regular bluffer! If you are holding a Badugi – 4 different suits and they are Jacks and under, you should also stand pat, it’s not a great hand, but you may be able to bluff other players into folding.
At the third draw phase you will be looking at your final hand, if your hand is four off-suit cards and they are lower than 8, call, raise and re-raise, unless you believe anyone else has a Badugi which is off-suit, A-2-3-4, or at least better cards than you. If they stood pat last round, they may well have Badugi and it might be in your best interest to fold.
The ten best Badugi hands are:
1. A 2 3 4
2. A 2 3 5
3. A 2 4 5
4. A 3 4 5
5. 2 3 4 5
6. A 2 3 6
7. A 2 4 6
8. A 3 4 6
9. 2 3 4 6
10. A 2 5 6
Bluffing in Badugi plays a prominent role and this to a degree is part of the excitement. Do this with care and never too often, always bluff in either the first or second draw and if you have a bad hand, never take your bluff through to the call, raise and re-raise.