Badugi does not evaluate a standard five-card hand. Aim for a low selection of four distinct ranks and four distinct suits. First determine how many cards your valid selection actually contains.
In this guide
Four cards and three draws
The badugi edition described deals four downcards, with three draws and four betting rounds. Aces are low; straights do not matter. A valid four-card hand beats any three-card hand, and three cards beat two. Within equal lengths, compare highest ranks downwards; lower wins. A–2–3–4 in four suits is ideal.
Further reading: PokerStars: Badugi
Find the best valid subset
Original hand: A♥ 2♥ 3♣ 4♦. All ranks differ, but hearts appear twice. Only one heart can count. A♥ 3♣ 4♦ is better than 2♥ 3♣ 4♦: after the four and three tie, the ace is lower. This is a three-card hand, not a badugi.
Length comes before low ranks
Puzzle: compare valid selections A♥ 2♦ 3♣ and K♥ Q♦ J♣ 10♠. The three-card selection looks lower, but the four-card hand wins. Compare ranks only after establishing equal valid lengths.
Answer and explanation
The second selection has four distinct suits and ranks, making a complete badugi. The first has only three cards. The complete hand wins despite containing a king, queen and jack.
Check ranks and suits separately
Use one column for suits and another for ranks. Do not automatically discard the highest card; examine valid subsets. A rank conflict may require a different selection from a suit conflict. Then note which card you would replace and what property its replacement must have.