How to Play Badugi
First off, each player draws a card. The one with the highest card is designated as the dealer. The dealer shuffles the deck, and deals four cards, one at a time, to each player.
Play begins with the player to the dealer’s left. That player is the small blind and places half of the value of the opening bet in the pot. The next player, going clockwise, is the big blind and has to place the whole value of the opening bet in the pot. The player to the big blind’s left opens the betting. Players can opt to bet, raise, or fold. There is no option to check, because the big blind has already set the minimum bet. In a fixed limit game, the betting is at the lower limit.
After the round of betting, each player has the option of exchanging some or all of their cards. They give the chosen number of cards to the dealer, who deals them the same number of cards from the top of the deck. Once every player has exchanged the selected number of cards, there is another round of betting. If the game is a fixed limit game, this round of betting is played at the lower limit.
After the second round of betting, players may again dispose of cards and receive new ones. Again, there is a round of betting. This round is at the higher limit in a fixed limit game.
After the third round of betting, players may choose to exchange their cards one final time. This is followed by a round of betting, again at the higher limit in a fixed limit game.
After the final round of betting, any player who has not folded compares his or her hands to those of the other players. The player with the lowest hand wins.
Each player draws a card. The one with the highest card is designated as the dealer. The dealer shuffles the deck, and deals four cards, one at a time, to each player.
Play begins with the player to the dealer’s left. That player is the small blind and places half of the value of the opening bet in the pot. The next player, going clockwise, is the big blind and has to place the whole value of the opening bet in the pot. The player to the big blind’s left opens the betting. Players can opt to bet, raise, or fold. There is no option to check, because the big blind has already set the minimum bet. In a fixed limit game, the betting is at the lower limit.
After the round of betting, each player has the option of exchanging some or all of their cards. They give the chosen number of cards to the dealer, who deals them the same number of cards from the top of the deck. Once every player has exchanged the selected number of cards, there is another round of betting. If the game is a fixed limit game, this round of betting is played at the lower limit.
After the second round of betting, players may again dispose of cards and receive new ones. Again, there is a round of betting. This round is at the higher limit in a fixed limit game.
After the third round of betting, players may choose to exchange their cards one final time. This is followed by a round of betting, again at the higher limit in a fixed limit game.
After the final round of betting, any player who has not folded compares his or her hands to those of the other players. The player with the lowest hand wins.