Prior to any cards being dealt, the first two players to the left of the button (marked with a D to signify the dealer) must pay the blinds. The blinds are forced bets that are rotated around the table among the players each round. The player who is directly to the left of the dealer pays the small blind and the next player to the left the big blind, which is twice the amount of the small blind.

After the blinds have been paid, the cards are dealt and the player to the left of the big blind starts the first of four betting rounds. The players have three options: fold, call (bet the same amount as the big blind) or raise (bet an amount greater than the big blind).

When everyone have acted, the players still in the game can try to improve their hands by discarding up to five cards and receive new ones from the dealer. The players can do this three times (before each betting round) but can also decide to keep the hand they currently have. After the fourth betting round there is a showdown and the player with the best low hand wins the pot.

If none of the players have Badugi (i.e. they either have pairs or at least two cards of the same suit) one of the cards that make the pair or one of the cards who share suit does not count. Instead, the player with the best three or two card hand wins.