Why Badugi was so popular at the WSOP and how to play it...
ODDBALL QUESTION I’m often accused of dwelling too much on players who are just beginning to play. Today we’ll look at some of the more oddball stuff just for a change of pace. In any case it will still be of interest to new players who won’t be new for very long if our FREE online poker schools at dailystarpoker.com are doing their usual excellent job.
Q: I was lucky enough to be on holiday in Las Vegas during this year’s World Series of Poker. Very much as a spectator I might add. The new rage was the Badugi Event. Can you give me the basics of the game as it’s played online? A: It’s an interesting poker variation and it was indeed causing a stir at the WSOP. As a result a lot of the major sites are making Badugi available online. It’s a four card game of triple-draw “lowball” where the best hand contains Ace-Two-Three-Four-Five, all of different suits. Perhaps better known as a rainbow straight. You play the game with a button, a small blind and a big blind. Each player is dealt four cards face down. Then there are four betting rounds. One follows the deal and then there’s a round after each of the three draws. Only six players maximum can play Badugi as the number of discards make it a naturally short-handed game. Usually the maximum bet is capped at half the value of the current pot. The game results in some pretty insane action as the odds appear at most stages in the game to be very good. This is not a game for the inexperienced player and it’s worth a look at Doyle Brunson’s site if you want to pick up on all of the potential plays. He’s a master at Badugi and perhaps its major celebrity sponsor. It’s advisable to watch things like multi-way pots in action before you get involved and find yourself machine-gunned. For the action-junkies among you the game is an absolute must. I have played it twice and it’s like being in a gunfight with no cover. Enjoy, but beware!
POKER TIP OF THE DAY Let’s assume you’re a reasonably inexperienced player. One of the main things to learn about “Limit Hold’em” is the importance of the “turn” card. This is probably the most tricky street to play. It’s what I call a decision card. Why? By the time you reach the turn you should have enough intel on your opponent or opponents, having watched their pre-flop action and how they reacted to the flop. Also the community cards will be telling you their own story by now. The bets at the turn now dramatically double, really magnifying its importance as a critical card. Make sure you are fully focused on all the points I have made here. How have your opponent played? What’s the board telling you? If in real doubt, fold. If you feel you have a chance, call. Keep notes on how these turn card situations go for you in low limit games and you’ll begin to learn when you can be more aggressive on this key street when the money is more significant.
