Mastering the fourbet Advanced Poker Strategy and Tactics

The concept of a fourbet is one of the most powerful tools in a serious poker player’s preflop arsenal. Understanding when and why to four-bet, and how to construct balanced ranges that exploit opponents without becoming predictable, separates strong winners from the rest of the field. This article explores the theory and practical application of four-betting for cash games and tournaments, examining the math behind fold equity, how position and stack depth change decisions, and concrete examples for common situations.

At its simplest, a four-bet is a re-raise made after an initial raise and a subsequent three-bet. If Player A opens, Player B three-bets, then Player C four-bets — that re-raise is the four-bet. While the raw mechanics are straightforward, the decision-making process is nuanced. Four-betting is not merely about having the strongest possible hand; it’s about generating fold equity, denying opponents favorable multiway pots, and putting pressure on ranges that the three-bettor employs. It can serve both value and bluffing purposes, and the correct mix is dependent on the tendencies of your opponents and the strategic environment.

Mathematically, the primary considerations are the size of the effective stacks, the probabilities of being called, and the expected value (EV) of each action. When you four-bet for value, you need a hand that plays well postflop if called and that fares well versus the calling range of your opponent. Hands like AA, KK, and AK are classic value four-betters. When you four-bet as a bluff, you seek hands that block strong caller hands — for example, A5s or KQs can work well as semi-bluff four-bets because they contain blockers to the premium holdings your opponent might call with. The balance between bluffs and value is crucial to avoid being exploited by opponents who will adjust by calling or flat-calling more often.

Position is another critical variable. Four-betting from the blinds versus a late position opener has different implications than four-betting in position. When you are in the big blind and face a late position three-bet, your range is often wider and more polarized, allowing for more speculative calls and occasional four-bet bluffs. Conversely, four-betting in position — for instance, when you are the button facing a cutoff three-bet — enables stronger postflop play and thus can justify slightly wider value and bluff combinations. The ability to make accurate postflop decisions increases the profitability of in-position four-bets.

Stack depth dramatically alters four-bet strategy. Deep stacked games (effective stacks of 100bb or more) favor four-bets that keep a postflop playability — hands that can realize equity on multi-street boundaries. In deep stacks, four-bet bluffs lose some potency because the cost of calling and playing out postflop can reward speculative hands. Conversely, in shallower stacks (30–60bb), four-bet shoves or short-stacked four-bet ranges become more polarized: either very strong hands for value or pure fold equity shoves. Tournament strategy often emphasizes shove/fold dynamics near the bubble or pay jumps, whereas cash games encourage more nuanced sizing and range construction.

Bet sizing on the four-bet matters both strategically and psychologically. Too small a four-bet invites callers and isolates you in uncomfortable multiway pots; too large a four-bet risks giving too much information or committing too large a portion of your stack. A typical approach is to make a four-bet around 2.5–3.5 times the size of the three-bet in cash games, keeping in mind table dynamics and stack sizes. In ICM-sensitive tournaments, players may tighten up their calling ranges, allowing slightly smaller four-bets to succeed more often if used as bluffs; however, beware of overusing this exploit, as observant opponents will widen their defenses.

Range composition is the backbone of effective four-bet strategy. Against aggressive three-bettors who three-bet wide, you should widen your four-bet bluff frequency and include hands that have blockers to premium holdings. Against tight three-bettors, skew your four-bet range toward value and reduce bluffing frequency. Crafting a balanced range means mixing in hands that can serve as both semi-bluffs and value to obscure intentions. For example, a four-bet range from the button might include AA, KK, QQ, AK as clear value, with A5s, KJs, and suited broadways as bluffs or semi-bluffs to maintain ambiguity.

Exploitive adjustments are vital. If an opponent folds too much to four-bets, increase your bluff frequency and four-bet smaller to price them out more often. If an opponent calls four-bets very wide or four-bets back often, tighten up and increase your value ratio. Observing tendencies — how often they open, their three-bet frequency, and their willingness to call or shove — allows profitable deviations from theoretical play. Remember that micro-adjustments compound: a single extra profitable three-bet or successful four-bet bluff per hundred hands can significantly boost winrate.

Postflop considerations also inform preflop four-bet decision-making. If your plan for being called is to play a small-ball, high-frequency continuation on favorable flops, include hands that can continue with equity and initiative. If your strategy is to rely on fold equity and avoid large postflop confrontations, favor hands that make preflop fold equity more likely. Good players anticipate the most common flops and prepare continuation lines that put pressure on calling ranges while preserving potential to extract value when holding strong hands.

Psychological factors and table image play a subtle but meaningful role. Players with a tight image can employ four-bets as more credible bluffs, while those labeled loose may need a higher value ratio to avoid getting called down. Manage your image by mixing frequencies: occasionally slow-playing your strongest hands by merely flatting a three-bet can create deception, while occasional light four-bets keep opponents honest. Balance creates doubt, and doubt creates extra folds — which is often the primary currency of profitable four-betting.

Practical drills and study tips: review hand histories focusing on three-bet pots, track the outcomes of your four-bets (folds vs calls vs reraises), and analyze opponent-specific adjustments. Use solver output to understand theoretical ranges, but adapt those insights to real opponents at your stakes. Practice different stack-depth scenarios in simulations to internalize when to shove, call, or fold postflop. Finally, keep a log of notable tendencies and update your strategy weekly; poker is dynamic and requires continual refinement.

In summary, mastering the four-bet requires blending theoretical fundamentals with opponent-specific exploits. Key elements include understanding fold equity math, sizing appropriately, adjusting for position and stack depth, building balanced yet adaptable ranges, and exploiting observable tendencies. Whether you play cash games or tournaments, the four-bet is a lever that, when used intelligently, increases your table control and long-term profitability. Invest time in study and reflective practice, and the nuanced power of the four-bet will reward you through more frequent folds, better isolated pots, and superior preflop leverage.

Mastering the fourbet Advanced Poker Strategy and Tactics

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