fourbet is one of the most decisive actions in modern no-limit hold’em — a tool that can define pots, isolate opponents, and extract maximum value or fold equity when used correctly.
Understanding the fourbet — the act of making the fourth raise in a preflop sequence — requires more than memorizing hand lists. It sits at the intersection of range construction, opponent tendencies, stack depth, and table dynamics. While a three-bet already signals strength or aggression, a fourbet escalates the message: you either have a hand that wants to get to showdown with fewer players and larger bets, or you are applying pressure to win the pot outright without seeing more cards.
At a conceptual level, fourbetting serves three primary purposes. First, it constructs value: with the absolute top of your range (premium pairs and the very best aces) you can build a pot and deny equity to speculative hands. Second, it can act as a polarized bluff: by fourbetting with selected bluffs, you force opponents to fold marginal hands and sometimes avoid playing out of position postflop. Third, it isolates: by reraising, you reduce the field and often steer the hand toward heads-up engagement where your postflop skills can shine.
Range construction for fourbets depends heavily on position and the opponent’s tendencies. In early position versus a late-position opener and a call, fourbetting lightly is generally inadvisable because of potential multiway issues. Against a single opponent who opens from late position, a balanced approach mixes polar value hands (AA, KK, sometimes QQ, AK) with thin bluffs (suited connectors, occasional suited aces) in frequencies that depend on the opponent’s defending range. Against frequent three-bettors, tighten your value and increase your bluff frequency because their call and shove tendencies differ from more passive players.
Stack depth matters more than many realize. Deep stacks (100bb+) allow fourbets to be used as leverage: the implied odds make calling more attractive, so your fourbet range should be stronger and less dependent on all-in scenarios. Conversely, short and medium stacks create fold-or-commit situations where shove dynamics change the game. With 20–40bb effective stacks, fourbetting often becomes an all-in or fold proposition; this compresses the viable fourbet range to near-premiums unless you believe your opponent overfolds to shoves.
Bet sizing communicates information and influences decisions. A small fourbet relative to the three-bet size invites a wide defense, while a large fourbet polarizes ranges and increases the likelihood of folds. Standardized sizing in many games (e.g., making a fourbet 2.2–2.5x the three-bet) creates predictability; mixing sizes in a GTO framework can disguise intentions but requires a coherent plan for postflop play. In exploitative contexts, size your fourbets to maximize fold equity against players who overfold, and to control pot size against calling stations.
Identifying when to employ a bluff fourbet is an advanced skill. Bluff fourbets should target spots where opponent ranges are weak or capably defendable. Good candidates are frequent three-bettors who use wide ranges or open-raising stations from late position who will fold to heavy preflop pressure. Equity realization postflop is also considered: pick bluff hands that play well when called, such as suited Broadway hands or suited connectors that retain backdoor possibilities and blockers to strong hands.
Equally important is recognizing tells and patterns. Online, timing and bet sizing patterns can reveal ranges. In live play, physical cues, table image, and recent history of confrontations all factor into decision-making. If an opponent has been three-betting light and folding to pressure, increase fourbet bluff frequency. If they rarely fold when facing a reraised pot, restrict fourbets to value and consider flatting to keep their mistakes in play.
Strategy adjusts significantly between cash games and tournaments. In cash games, where stacks are repairable and chip value remains constant, fourbetting can be a long-term value tool; pot control and range balance become priorities. In tournaments, escalating blinds and ICM pressure change incentives. Near bubble situations or when pay-jump considerations apply, fourbetting too aggressively can be costly. Conversely, in early tournament stages, deep stacks and fewer pay considerations make fourbetting more akin to cash-game strategy.
Tooling and study accelerate mastery. Use solvers to examine equilibrium solutions and compare them to exploitable adjustments for common opponents. Review hand histories to understand how different fourbet sizes and compositions played out postflop. Heads-up displays and HUD stats help quantify opponents’ three-bet frequencies, fold-to-fourbet rates, and preflop aggression; these metrics should inform your specific fourbet frequencies and hand choices.
Mental game and tilt control are underrated. Fourbetting is a high-variance line — bluffs will fail and premiums will sometimes be cracked on later streets. Maintaining a disciplined approach, tracking results, and avoiding over-adjustments after a couple of bad beats keeps your strategy coherent. Be ready to change gears: if opponents adapt by widening calls or tightening folds, your preplanned fourbet mix should shift accordingly.
Practical drills to improve: practice constructing polarized ranges for various positions and stack depths, run scenario-based simulations with a solver, and review session hands that involve fourbet pots to identify leaks. Work on flop follow-up plans; a fourbet often commits you to larger postflop actions, so understanding c-bet frequencies, check-back lines, and shove thresholds improves outcomes. Finally, practice sizing consistency so that your actions are not giving away information unnecessarily.
In summary, mastering the fourbet is about synergy: choosing the right hands, sizes, moments, and psychological approach. It’s a weapon that rewards careful study and disciplined use. Whether your aim is to exploit recreational opponents or to align with GTO principles against tougher fields, the fourbet can be a defining feature of an advanced preflop arsenal when applied thoughtfully and adaptively.
