The four-bet is one of the most powerful and nuanced tools in a serious poker player’s arsenal. At its most basic, a four-bet is a re-raise after an initial raise and a subsequent re-raise (the three-bet), but its implications stretch well beyond sizing or aggression. Mastering the four-bet requires an integrated understanding of ranges, stack depth, position, opponent tendencies, and postflop skill. This article breaks down practical situations where a four-bet is appropriate, how to size it, and how to balance between value and bluffing to extract maximum edge.
When to consider a four-bet: The decision to four-bet should be informed by three main axes: equity (how strong your hand is), leverage (positional and psychological advantage), and fold equity (how likely is your opponent to fold). In cash games, where deep stacks prevail, four-bet shoves are rarer and often committed only with the nuts or very strong hands; instead, sizing for pressure and postflop maneuverability matters. In tournaments or short-stack situations, four-bet shoves become a high-frequency tool to deny equity to marginal hands and steal the pot preflop.
Range construction: A robust four-betting strategy blends polarized and linear approaches. Polarized ranges contain very strong hands (value) and pure bluffs; linear ranges skew toward the top of your range (value-heavy). Against an open-raise from late position, the defending player in the blinds might four-bet with hands like AA, KK, and bluffs such as A5s or K9s to balance. Conversely, against a tight late-position raiser, a more linear four-bet range—KK+, maybe QQ and AK—can be profitable. Adjustments must factor opponents’ opener frequency: wide openers merit a wider four-bet bluff mix.
Sizing: Four-bet sizing has both practical and psychological effects. Too small and you leave opponents with cheap odds to call; too large and you risk getting committed without folding out marginal hands. Common approaches include a fixed percentage of the pot (e.g., three to four times the size of the three-bet) or reactive sizing—shoving with the very strongest hands in short-stack spots and using a large but non-all-in four-bet with hands you wish to play postflop. Balanced players mix sizes to avoid giving away strength information, though most live and lower-stakes online games allow exploitable simplifications.
Stack depth and postflop considerations: Deep-stacked play transforms the four-bet from a terminal action into a strategic lever for complex postflop battles. If both players have deep stacks and the four-bet is called, the postflop playability of hands becomes critical—suited connectors and broadway combos fare better. If stacks are shallow, the four-bet frequently commits the effective stacks and essentially becomes an all-in decision, which must be backed by fold equity and strong equity vs calling ranges.
Exploitative adjustments: Against opponents who fold too often to aggression, increase your four-bet bluff frequency; you can steal the pot preflop more often. Against sticky callers, tighten your four-bet range to primarily value hands, and rely less on bluffs. Versus players who c-bet aggressively postflop, be cautious with four-bet bluffs that lack playability; you might be forced into difficult runouts where your blocker advantage is insufficient.
Blockers and hand selection: Blockers—cards that reduce the likelihood your opponent holds certain strong hands—are invaluable when selecting four-bet bluffs. Holding an Ace or King as a blocker to opponent’s likely calling range can make hands like A5s or KJs strong bluff candidates. Conversely, hands that are easy to play postflop and conceal strength, such as suited broadways, often make good candidates for small-ball four-betting in deeper stacks.
Mental game and table dynamics: The four-bet is a statement. Frequent use establishes a table image—either aggressive and pressure-heavy or unpredictable and balanced. Use this to your advantage: if you’ve built a tight image, occasional four-bet bluffs will carry more fold equity. Conversely, if labeled aggressive, lean more into value hands or mix sizings to maintain ambiguity.
Tournament vs cash game strategy: In tournaments, antes and rising blinds increase the value of preflop steals, pushing four-bet shove ranges wider as stages advance. Bubble and pay jump dynamics require an acute reading of opponents’ risk aversion. Cash games favor deeper structures and postflop skill; four-bet ranges should skew toward hands that play well beyond the river, and exploitative four-bets should be reserved for clear missteps by opponents.
Facing a four-bet: If you’re on the receiving end, assess your stack-to-pot ratio (SPR), position, and opponent’s tendencies. Deep stacks invite calls with speculative hands; shallow stacks make calling marginal at best. Against a polarized four-bet range, folding marginal hands is often correct; against a linear range, a wider calling range might be profitable. Three-bet shoving as a countermeasure can be effective, but risks being dominated by premium hands—so choose based on fold equity and equity realization rather than emotion.
Practical drills and study routine: Improve your four-bet game by practicing with range tools and solvers, but don’t become solver-dependent. Start by memorizing baseline four-bet frequencies in common spots and run simulations to see equity outcomes against typical calling ranges. Review hand histories focusing on preflop decisions and postflop outcomes when four-bets are involved. Discuss spots with peers or coaches to expose blind spots and to learn exploitative adjustments.
Final tips: 1) Always consider position—acting last postflop is a huge advantage. 2) Use blockers to choose more effective bluffs. 3) Keep your sizing consistent across similar situations to avoid giving away information, but deliberately mix it occasionally to stay unpredictable. 4) Adjust to opponents’ tendencies rather than rigidly following theoretical charts. 5) Monitor table image and tournament stage to modulate four-bet frequencies.
Conclusion: The four-bet is more than a single aggressive move; it’s a strategic framework linking preflop aggression with postflop skill, psychology, and game theory. Players who learn to balance value and bluff, size properly, and adapt to stack depths and opponent types will find four-betting to be a high-leverage element of their overall strategy. Whether you use it to pressure timid opponents, isolate weaker players, or maximize value with the nuts, the four-bet rewards disciplined study and thoughtful execution.