Four-bet (4-bet)
A re-raise of a three-bet. Four-bet pots are large and usually decided pre-flop or on the flop; the range doing it is the tightest in the game, plus a few bluffs with ace blockers.
Frequently asked questions
What is a four-bet in poker?
The fourth bet in a sequence. Before the flop the big blind counts as the first, an opening raise is the second, a re-raise is the three-bet, and a raise of that is the four-bet.
How big should a four-bet be?
Usually a little over twice the three-bet in cash games — small enough that folding the three-bet is unattractive, large enough that calling commits a serious portion of the stack. With shallower tournament stacks a four-bet is frequently just a shove instead.
What hands four-bet?
Typically a polarised range: the premium hands that want the money in, plus a few bluffs chosen for their blockers — hands holding an ace or a king that reduce the combinations of the strong hands an opponent could continue with.