When to 4-Bet Before the Flop

A 4-bet is the fourth raise before the flop — your re-raise of someone's 3-bet. Because it commits a large amount preflop, a 4-betting range is tight and purposeful, built from strong value hands and a smaller number of bluffs.

Value 4-bets

Your value 4-bets are the hands happy to get all the money in, or to play a very large pot, against a 3-betting range: the top of your range. These are clear — you're re-raising because you're ahead and want to build the pot or get it in.

4-bet bluffs

Because a value-only 4-bet range is easy to fold to, strong players add bluffs. The best 4-bet bluffs block the opponent's value-continuing range — for example, a hand containing an ace blocks some of their AA and AK combinations, making it less likely they have a hand strong enough to continue. Suited blocker hands are common 4-bet bluff candidates because they also retain some playability if called.

When to 4-bet more or less

• Against opponents who 3-bet too often and fold to 4-bets, add bluffs — they're handing you the pot.
• Against opponents who only 3-bet premiums or never fold to 4-bets, drop the bluffs and 4-bet for value only.

Sizing and stack depth

4-bet sizing interacts with stack depth: deeper stacks allow more room to maneuver postflop, while shallower stacks push more hands toward an all-in decision. The key is consistency so you don't reveal value vs. bluff by size.

Common mistakes

• 4-bet bluffing with random weak hands instead of blockers.
• 4-betting into players who never fold.
• Getting stacks in light at shallow depth without a plan.