Clubs Poker BasicHow to Play Badeucy Poker
Learn the split-pot draw game that combines 2-7 Triple Draw with Badugi—five cards, three draws and two different ways to win.
Beginner friendly · Visual examples · Simple strategy
What is Badeucy poker?
Badeucy—also written Badeucey or Baduci—is a five-card, triple-draw poker game. At showdown, half the pot goes to the best five-card 2-7 low and half goes to the best four-card Badugi made from the same five cards.
The 2-7 Triple Draw half
All five cards count. You want the lowest unpaired hand, but straights and flushes work against you and an ace is always high. The best possible holding is 7-5-4-3-2 with no flush.
The Badugi half
Your best four-card combination counts. Every usable card must have a different rank and suit. Unlike regular Badugi, aces play high in Badeucy, making 5-4-3-2 rainbow the best possible Badugi.
How a Badeucy hand works
The structure will feel familiar if you have played 2-7 Triple Draw: blinds, four betting rounds and three opportunities to improve your hand.
Post the blinds
The player left of the dealer posts the small blind and the next player posts the big blind. Action begins to the left of the big blind.
Receive five cards
Every player is dealt five private cards face down. The first betting round takes place before anyone draws.
Draw three times
On each draw, discard unwanted cards and receive the same number of replacements. You may also stand pat and keep all five.
Bet after each draw
A betting round follows every draw. In fixed-limit Badeucy, later streets normally use the larger betting limit.
Split the showdown
The best 2-7 low takes half and the best Badugi takes half. One player can win both sides and scoop the entire pot.
Learn both sides of the pot
Read each half separately. The same five cards may be excellent for one side, weak for the other, or powerful enough to win both.
Best 2-7 low hands
Listed strongest to weakest. Each example must be unpaired and not a flush.
Best Badeucy Badugis
Listed strongest to weakest. Every card shown must have a different suit.
The best possible Badeucy hand
With 2♣ 3♥ 4♠ 5♦ 7♣, all five cards make the best 2-7 low, while the 2♣ 3♥ 4♠ 5♦ form the best four-card Badeucy Badugi.
How a Badeucy showdown is scored
Score the five-card 2-7 hand first, then find each player’s best four-card Badugi. Never combine cards between players.
Six simple ways to make better decisions
Badeucy rewards hands that can improve together. Start by choosing cards with a realistic route to winning both halves, not merely surviving to showdown.
Start with low cards in different suits
Three low, unpaired cards in three suits give you a useful foundation for both a strong Badugi and a competitive 2-7 low.
Build toward a scoop
Prefer draws that improve both halves. A card that completes your Badugi but leaves a weak five-card low may win only half the pot.
Treat aces as trouble
Aces play high on both sides in Badeucy. They are usually easy discards because they rarely support a strong showdown hand.
Respect four-card Badugis
Any complete four-card Badugi defeats every three-card Badugi. In multiway pots, a three-card hand is often fighting from behind.
Watch how many cards players draw
A player standing pat signals a made hand. Drawing one often shows strength; drawing two or more usually means more work remains.
Avoid expensive half-pot chases
Calling several big bets to win only one side can be costly, especially if that half may be tied and quartered.
A promising beginner starting structure
Hands containing 2-3-4 in three different suits deserve attention because they can grow into premium Badugis and strong 2-7 lows. The two remaining cards, position, action and opponents’ draw patterns still matter—this is a useful shape, not an automatic play.
Common Badeucy beginner mistakes
Using regular Badugi ace rules
In standard Badugi, an ace is low. In Badeucy, the ace is high for the Badugi half and the 2-7 half.
Forgetting that straights are bad
2-3-4-5-6 looks low, but it is a straight and therefore a poor 2-7 hand.
Counting repeated suits twice
Cards with duplicate suits cannot both be used in the Badugi portion. Choose the best legal rainbow combination.
Standing pat with only half a hand
A made Badugi can still have a weak 2-7 side. Consider both halves before deciding that no draw is best.
Badeucy terms and FAQs
Frequently asked questions
What is the best hand in Badeucy?
The perfect Badeucy holding is 7-5-4-3-2 with the 5, 4, 3 and 2 all in different suits. It makes the best possible 2-7 low and the best possible four-card Badeucy Badugi.
Is an ace low in Badeucy?
No. An ace plays high for both halves of the pot. This is one of the most important differences between Badeucy and regular Badugi.
How many cards are dealt in Badeucy?
Each player receives five private cards. All five are used for the 2-7 comparison, while the best legal four-card combination is used for the Badugi comparison.
How many draws are there?
There are three draws. Players may discard and replace cards on each draw or stand pat by keeping all five cards.
What happens if nobody has a four-card Badugi?
The best three-card Badugi wins that half. Any three-card Badugi beats every two-card Badugi, and any two-card Badugi beats every one-card hand.
What is the difference between Badeucy and Badacey?
Badeucy uses 2-7 lowball and aces play high. Badacey normally uses A-5 lowball, where aces play low and straights and flushes do not hurt the low hand.
Ready to try Badeucy?
Take the rules to the table, aim for both halves and discover one of poker’s most satisfying mixed games.