A 4-bet is when a player raises with the fourth bet in a preflop pot. This is a common strategy used to isolate the opponent and can be highly effective. Unlike 3-bets, 4-bets are generally geared toward value. This means that they are often made with strong, premium hands such as pocket aces or kings.
When deciding to use the 4-bet, it is important to think about the overall game plan. Ideally, you want to do this against players who will call with weaker hands or are likely to fold. This type of player is ideal to target as they will usually pay you off with a flop when they have weak holdings such as AK or AQ.
Another consideration when making the 4-bet is the size of the bet. You should always make a bet that is big enough to scare off your opponents, but not so big that they feel threatened by it. In addition, you should only 4bet when you have a premium hand that is likely to win the pot.
It is also a good idea to expand your 4-bet range with hands that are different from the majority of your opponent’s. This will help to confuse your opponents and make them wonder if you are bluffing or playing for value. However, it is crucial to remember that you should never include hands like JT in your 4-bet range as these will not provide much value to the pot.
While the 4-bet can be an excellent tool for gaining value, it is important to remember that it can be a costly mistake if done incorrectly. A lot of amateur poker players make this mistake on a regular basis and lose a significant amount of money as a result.
One of the biggest mistakes is to 4bet KQ while the opponent has a strong starting hand such as AK or KK. This is a huge mistake that will cost you a lot of money, and it is essential to avoid it at all costs.
A good way to avoid this mistake is to analyze your opponents’ tendencies and the table dynamics before making a decision. You can then use this information to construct a solid 4-bet range that will leave your opponents in a tricky position.
You should also remember to adjust your 4-bet size depending on the position of the player who is raising you. For example, if you are raising an UTG re-raiser with a tight 3bet range then your 4bet size should be larger. This will ensure that you do not give away any information about your hand strength and will force the opponent to either over-defend or fold in a bad spot. Finally, you should remember to use a range that includes a small number of bluffs so that you can pick off any over-defenders or under-defenders. As you can see, the 4-bet is a powerful weapon in the hands of an experienced poker player.