A 4-bet in poker is the second re-raise that occurs after an initial preflop raise. While 4-bets are much more common before the flop, they can also occur post-flop. In this article, we will explore the best hands to 4-bet and when to do so in order to maximize your profits.

When to Use a 4-Bet

The 4-bet is a great way to get value from your strongest hands pre-flop while simultaneously isolating players that have 3-betted behind you. However, you must be careful when to use this strategy as it can backfire if used too often or with the wrong hands.

In general, a player should try to 4-bet only with hands that have high bluffing potential and a decent kicker. Hands like small suited aces are good examples of this type of hand. However, you must remember that your opponent will likely have a strong pre-flop draw when they call a 4bet bluff, such as a straight or nut flush.

Moreover, you must also be aware of your opponent’s 3-bet history when deciding when to 4-bet. A good way to determine this is to look at how often your opponent has raised before and then make a decision about whether or not to 3-bet them in return.

Another time when it makes sense to 4-bet is when you are playing out of position and want to steal the pot with a weak starting hand. For example, if you are in early position and an opponent 3-bets behind you with a weak starting hand like JTs or KJs, you should 4-bet in order to isolate them and steal the pot.

When you decide to 4-bet, it’s also important to use a balanced sizing. You don’t want to make your 4-bet so large that your opponent can snap shove with their monsters like pocket kings. Instead, you should make your 4-bet just big enough that they have to think hard about their decision and give you maximum rope to do something stupid.

Finally, it’s also important to note that when you 4-bet, you are essentially trying to force your opponent into making a bad one. This is because they will probably 3-bet again in return if they think you have a strong hand, and they will then have to call your 3-bet with a hand that may not be as good as theirs. Therefore, when you make your 4-bet, you should be confident that you have a better hand than theirs in order to increase the chances of them folding. This will result in you being able to take down the pot with your stronger value hands and will also make it more likely that you can bluff against their 3-betting when they have a strong starting hand.