What is a Four Flush in Poker?

Introduction

Not every hand is about what cards you have. Sometimes, it’s about what you are building toward. A four flush is one such powerful drawing hand that shows up more often than you might think, and knowing how to play it can be the difference between leaking chips and leveraging opportunity.

This blog explores everything you need to know about how to spot this draw and how to profit from it in any game.

What is a Four Flush?

A four flush is a hand containing four cards of the same suit. It is one card short of a complete flush, which is five suited cards. It is a drawing hand, meaning it has the potential to improve into a strong hand, but isn't strong by itself.

Important: A four flush does not beat a pair or any other made hand. It is only a potential hand unless it improves.

Examples of Four Flush

Example 1 – Low Stakes Online Game

Hole Cards: ♣A♣9
Flop: ♣4♦K♣6

You have two clubs in hand and two more on the flop.

You have: ♣A♣9♣4♣6 = Four clubs (four flush)

Pot size after preflop action: ₹15
Opponent bets ₹10 on the flop

Decision:

• You have a four flush with the nut draw (ace-high flush draw)
• You’re getting odds of ₹10 to win ₹25
• With 9 outs, you have a ~35% chance to hit by the river

Call is mathematically profitable, especially if your opponent might pay off if you hit your flush

Example 2 – Mid Stakes Cash Game (₹25/₹50)

Hole Cards: ♥Q♠J
Flop: ♥8♥3♣
Turn: ♥K

Now you have:

• ♥Q from hand
• ♥8, ♥3, ♥K from board
    Total: Four hearts

Pot Size: ₹1,200
Opponent bets ₹600

Here’s the calculation:

• You are getting 2:1 on a call (₹600 to win ₹1,800)
• Chance of hitting the flush on the river: ~19.5%

You’re behind right now, but may hit your flush. Is this a good call?

You have to decide:

• Will your opponent pay off more if you hit?
• Could they have a better flush draw (e.g., ♥A or ♥J)?
• Can you represent a flush and bluff even if it doesn’t hit?

This becomes a semi-bluff or fold spot depending on your read.

Example 3 – Tournament Spot (₹1,100 Buy-In MTT)

You are in the Big Blind.
Stack: ₹8,500
Blinds: ₹200/₹400
You hold: ♠9♠T
Flop: ♠4♦K♠
Turn: ♠7

You now have:

• Four spades: ♠9♠T♠4♠7 (four flush)

A player in mid-position bets ₹1,200 into a pot of ₹2,400.

You have:

• 9 outs
• 19.5% chance to hit on river
• Decent fold equity if you move all-in

This is a perfect semi-bluff shove spot if:

• Your opponent is capable of folding a hand like top pair
• You have fold equity + drawing equity

If he folds: you win ₹2,400 + ₹1,200 = ₹3,600 pot without showdown
If called and you hit: you double up

Four Flush Odds Table

When To Chase Four Flushes?

Chasing depends on pot odds, implied odds, and your position.

Good Times To Chase:

1. You are Getting the Right Pot Odds
   If the bet you are facing is small enough relative to the pot, and your chance of hitting the flush justifies a call mathematically, it’s a good spot. For example - You need to call ₹1,000 to win ₹3,000 (pot odds = 33%). If your flush will hit around 35% of the time, this is a profitable call.
2. You are in Position
   Acting last gives you an informational edge. You will get to see what your opponent does before you decide. You can take a free card, apply pressure on scare cards, or bluff missed draws more effectively.
3. Opponent is Weak or Overly Aggressive
   If your opponent is known to c-bet often or folds easily under pressure, you may profit even without hitting your flush. The threat of a completed flush (when the fourth suited card hits the board) can be used to bluff successfully.
4. You Hold the Nut Flush Draw (Ace-high)
   Chasing with the best possible flush draw (e.g., holding ♠A♠Q on a ♠4♠8♣ board) is ideal. If the flush completes, you are rarely worried about domination. It also opens doors for bluff-catching if you miss but the board scares others.
5. High Implied Odds
   If your opponent has a strong but beatable hand (like top pair or two pair) and will likely pay off a big river bet, the potential reward outweighs the immediate pot odds.

Bad Times to Chase:

1. You are Out of Position
   Without the advantage of seeing what your opponent does first, you are often guessing — do you check-call, lead out, or give up? It’s easier to lose value or overpay when you are first to act.
2. The Pot is Small But the Bet is Big
   If there is not enough money in the middle and you’re being asked to call a large bet, the risk-to-reward ratio doesn’t justify chasing. You’d be investing a lot to win very little, a common leak in low-stakes games.
3. The Board is Paired
   Even if your flush hits, a paired board opens the door to full houses. Your opponent could have a set or two pair, and if the board pairs again on the river, your flush might no longer be the best hand.
4. Opponent is Tight or Passive
   If your opponent only bets big when they have strong hands and rarely pays off on scary boards, you don’t have much fold equity or implied odds. Chasing becomes much less profitable in these spots.
5. You Might Be Drawing Dead
   If the opponent is also on a flush draw but could have a higher one (e.g., you have ♣J♣9 and they have ♣A♣Q), even if you hit your flush, you may lose a big pot, making it a reverse implied odds situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a four flush and a flush?

A four flush is an incomplete hand with only four cards of the same suit, you still need one more card to make a flush. A flush, on the other hand, is a completed hand with five cards of the same suit, which beats many other hand types. A four flush has no made hand value and relies on hitting the fifth suited card on the turn or river to become strong.

Is a four flush worth chasing?

It depends on the pot odds and implied odds. If you are getting the right price (e.g., calling ₹500 to win ₹2,000), and your draw has enough equity (~35% on flop), it's often worth chasing. If your opponent is tight or the board is dangerous, it might not be profitable.

How many outs does a four flush have?

A standard four flush has 9 outs. These are the remaining cards of that suit in the deck. For example, if you have four hearts, there are 13 hearts total, and 4 are already visible (2 in your hand, 2 on the board), leaving 9 unseen hearts that can complete your flush.

Conclusion

While four flush is not a made hand, it offers leverage for calculated aggression, especially when paired with position and fold equity. In games where players often call loosely or overvalue top pair, using it as both a drawing and bluffing tool can be highly profitable.