Badugi, Badeucy and Badacey

Badugi is a draw game where you are dealt four cards and try to make a "badugi": four cards of different suits and different ranks, as low as possible. Badeucy and Badacey are hybrids that split the pot between the best badugi and the best five-card low (2-7 in Badeucy, A-5 in Badacey).

How it works

In Badugi you get four cards, there are three drawing rounds, and betting after each draw. The goal is a four-card badugi. A hand with a pair or two cards of the same suit can't count both cards, so it only has three (or fewer) usable cards, and a four-card badugi beats any three-card hand. In Badeucy and Badacey you get five cards, and there are three draws; half the pot goes to the best badugi from your cards (four of them) and half to the best five-card low.

Rules and hand rankings

Badugi: four cards, all different ranks and suits. Aces are low, and the best hand is A-2-3-4 in four different suits.
Compare four-card badugis from the highest card down: 8-4-3-A beats 9-2-A-3 because 8 is lower than 9. A four-card badugi beats any three-card hand, even a very low one.
Badeucy: half to the best badugi, half to the best 2-7 low. Aces are high in this game, so the best badugi is 2-3-4-5 of different suits, and the best low is 7-5-4-3-2.
Badacey: half to the best badugi, half to the best A-5 low. The best low is A-2-3-4-5 and straights and flushes don't count against you.

Worked example

In Badacey you hold A♠ 2♦ 3♣ 4♥ 6♠. For the badugi half, A-2-3-4 are four different suits, which is the nut badugi. For the A-5 low half, A-2-3-4-6 is a six-low, a strong hand. If the draws go your way you could be on track to scoop both halves. Compare 2♠ 3♠ 5♦ 6♣: the 2♠ and 3♠ share a suit so only one counts, leaving three usable cards. Any four-card badugi beats that, even a king-high one.

Strategy tips

Keep low, off-suit, different-rank cards, and discard cards that duplicate a suit or rank.
A-2-3-x type hands are the strongest starters. Aces are valuable because they are the lowest card.
When you hold three good cards and need one more, count how many cards in the deck complete your badugi before you commit.
Pay attention to opponents who stand pat. They usually have a strong four-card badugi, so a late draw to beat them is risky.
In Badeucy and Badacey, look for hands that can win both halves. A hand strong in just one half only wins half the pot.
Take it slow at first. The way hands are compared is unusual and costs beginners chips.

Common mistakes

Keeping two cards of the same suit
Thinking a pair of low cards counts as two cards
Forgetting aces are high in Badeucy but low in Badacey and Badugi
Drawing to a weak three-card hand against a pat opponent

Learn more (free)

Independent free articles and rules pages, not our content. We link them because they teach the game well. Each link was checked on 2026-10-24.

Find these tournaments

Draw tournaments (Badugi and others) → Draw games at Phenom Poker → Mixed games with Badugi rounds → Phenom PSOP I series →

Verified in our data on Oct 24, 2026: Badugi appears in Phenom Poker events (PSOP I #52 Badugi, Limit Badugi freerolls) and in the Circus, Super Circus, Fun and Standard mixes Phenom publishes. Hybrid rules checked against Phenom's Draw Games Rules page.

FAQ

What is Badugi?

What is the best Badugi hand?

A-2-3-4 in four different suits.

Is a three-card badugi ever good?

Rarely. A four-card hand of any rank beats it, so it only wins if no one has a four-card badugi.

What is the difference between Badeucy and Badacey?

Both split the pot with a badugi half. Badeucy pairs it with a 2-7 low (aces high) and Badacey with an A-5 low (aces low).

Where is Badugi played?

On Oct 24, 2026 we list Badugi events (including Limit Badugi freerolls) and mixes containing Badugi at Phenom Poker, and the Badeucy and Badacey hybrids. Check the lobby for current events.

How many draws and betting rounds are there?

Three draws, with a betting round after each one (and one on the deal), according to Phenom's rules page. Check the lobby for each event's limit structure.

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