What is 4-bet in Poker?

Introduction

What if you could bet after your opponent 3-bet? Yes, this is possible. All the experienced players might have heard of a term called 4-bet when you bet after someone has 3-betted. 4-bets are more common before the flop but can also happen afterwards.

What should you do if someone four bets? Should you Fold or bet even more? Let’s understand the concept of 4-bet to get these answers. The article will cover everything about 4-bets and some strategies for successful 4-betting.

What is a 4-Bet?

A 4-bet is the second re-raise in a betting round, mostly seen in the flop. Let’s say you raise in the pre-flop, and a player, called the 3-bet, re-raises. If you raise it again, it’s called a 4-bet.

When and Why You Should Consider a 4-bet

4-bet is when you raise after your opponent has re-raised. You need strong cards like pocket aces or kings to make a 4-bet.

You can also bluff and make a 4-bet to make weaker hands fold, but it’s risky as the stakes are high. You 4-bet with a strong hand to get money into the pot. If you play slowly, you might lose a chance to win big.

Also, if your position at the table is unfavourable, a 4-bet may help you take control of the game and win.

How Should You 4-Bet?

First, it is advisable to not only 4-bet with premium hands. You may miss the chance to win when your opponent folds. Once your opponent reads your behaviour and realise you are only 4-bet with a strong hand, they fold with weak hands and only raise with strong ones.

You can 4-bet with premium hands when you are sure that your opponent won’t fold to a 4-bet. Here are three steps to 4-bet effectively:

Identify your value 4-betting range

You should pick the strong hand worth the 4-bet, which depends upon the position you are playing from. The other factors include your opponent's positions, the stack sizes, and whether you can read your opponent.

Add bluffs to your 4-betting range

The next step is to show your bluffing style. Ax and Kx are considered the best bluff hands, which cannot profitably be called the 3-bet. These hands block your opponent’s hand, making them fold. You can add some offsuit Ax/Kx and other hands to make it more effective. The general rule says the jumper of bluffs should match your value range.

4-bet to an amount that puts your opponent in a tough spot.

The last step is to use a size that puts your opponents in a tough position. A good 4-bet makes most of the range feel uncertain. If you go too big or small, you are helping them and making them avoid mistakes.

A good 4-bet puts pressure on the 3-bet betting range and forces them to play perfectly under pressure.

What 4-Bet Size Should You Use?

Let’s first understand what a 4-bet is. A 4-bet when you raise a raise that was already re-raised. Let’s say player A raises, player B raises (3-bet), and then player A again raises. Now, what size should your 4-bet be? The size of the bet depends on the table position you are playing from. If you are:

• In Position: You act after your opponent. This way, you can see what they do first. The general rule says you should use a smaller 4-bet.
• Out of Position: This position is risky, as you are the first to act. You have less information about your opponents and their gameplay. Here, you can use a bigger 4-bet to scare them and fold.

Let’s understand this with an example:

If you are in the position you raised on the Button, the small blind 3-bets to 11bb. You should 4-bet to about 25bb (roughly 2.3x their 3-bet).

If you are out of position, you raise from the Cutoff, the button 3-bets to 7.2bb. Hence, you should 4-bet to about 18–19bb (roughly 2.5–2.6x their 3-bet).

Steps to a Successful 4-Bet Poker Strategy

Here’s a step-by-step guide to a successful 4-bet poker strategy:

• Never 4-bet with random cards. Choose the right cards and spot to bet.
• You can play aggressively, but don’t overdo it. Make sure you have cards to justify your 4-bet or bluff smartly.
• Try to focus on strong hands—especially hands with aces. Having an ace or king reduces the chance of your opponent having the same and gives you strong draws.
• 4-Bet when the time is right. Avoid 4-betting in every game.

What hands should I 4-bet bluff with?

Keeping your opponents guessing the card you will use to 4-bet is important. If you 4-bet with stronger hands, it will be easy to force them to fold. Here is what you can do:

• You can bluff. Instead of waiting for a stronger hand, you can use your weak hands and bluff. If you have cards like Ace or King, it’s an added advantage. These cards are blockers; if you have these cards, this means your opponent does not have a strong hand.
• You can also use your strong hand to bet big to make a more substantial pot. This will force your opponent to fold.

Hands suitable for 4-betting

Here are a few hands suitable for 4-betting:

• Pocket Aces and Kings
• Hands that are blockers. For example, if you have an Ace or king, your opponent cannot make a pocket Ace or king.
• You can also use QQ, JJ, and AQ to 4-bet. This will all depend upon your opponent’s 3-bet.

Should the 4-bet range be changed depending on position?

The answer is yes. The range of 4-bet depends on these two factors:

• Whether you are in the position or out of position.
• Whether your opponent’s bet was tight or not.

How to Combat Those Who 4-Bet Against You

If someone puts a 4-bet, there can be two instances: either they have a strong hand or are bluffing. Despite this, you may still have a chance to call their 4-bet.

You might get a good ration on your call. This means if you bet 1, you can win 3 or 4. By looking at your hand, if you have a 25-30% chance of winning, you can still go ahead and call their bet.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Does 4-bet mean in poker?

4-betting is nothing but re-raising after 3-bet. When your opponent 3-bets, you again bet on it. This is called 4-bet.

What is the size of a 4-bet in poker?

The size of the 4-bet is 2.2-2.5 times the size of the previous bet.

What is a first 4-bet?

An initial re-raise after the 3-bet is called a first 4-bet.

How much to 4-bet?

The size of the 4-bet is 2.2-2.5 times that of the 3-bet.

Conclusion

I hope you understand the nitty-gritty of 4-bet and how to play one. Understanding 4-bet is a key step in levelling up your poker game. It’s not just about having a strong hand; it’s about putting pressure and protecting your ranges. Practice is all you need. Start by learning the basics, understanding the table position, and bluffing; you are good to go. You can join Adda52 and create a private table to play with your friend.