# 4-Bet

> Source: [4-Bet in the Smarter.Poker Glossary](https://smarter.poker/glossary/4-bet)

## Definition
A 4-Bet Is A Re-Raise Over A 3-Bet Before The Flop. At Common Stack Depths A 4-Bet Commits A Large Share Of The Effective Stack, So Ranges Become Narrow And Polarized: Premium Pairs And Big Aces For Value, Plus A Few Suited Hands With Blockers As Bluffs. The Next Raise, A 5-Bet, Is Usually All In.

- **Category**: Preflop
- **Term Code**: `4-bet`
- **DefinedTermSet**: [Smarter.Poker Poker Glossary](https://smarter.poker/glossary)

## Related Poker Terms

- [3-Bet](https://smarter.poker/glossary/3-bet) ([Markdown](https://smarter.poker/glossary/3-bet.md)): A 3-Bet Is The First Re-Raise Before The Flop, Made Over An Open Raise. The Blinds Count As The First Bet And The Open As The Second, Which Is Why The Re-Raise Is The Third. A 3-Bet Can Be Made For Value With Strong Hands Or As A Bluff With Hands That Block The Opener's Best Holdings.
- [Polarized Range](https://smarter.poker/glossary/polarized-range) ([Markdown](https://smarter.poker/glossary/polarized-range.md)): A Polarized Range Is Made Of Very Strong Hands And Bluffs, With Few Medium Strength Hands In Between. Polarized Ranges Pair With Large Bets And Overbets, Because Strong Hands Want The Pot To Grow And Bluffs Need The Fold Equity. The Medium Hands That Are Left Out Are Checked, Where They Keep Their Showdown Value.
- [Effective Stack](https://smarter.poker/glossary/effective-stack) ([Markdown](https://smarter.poker/glossary/effective-stack.md)): The Effective Stack Is The Smaller Of The Stacks Between Two Players In A Hand, Because Nobody Can Win Or Lose More Than That Amount From The Other. If One Player Has 300 Chips And The Other 80, The Effective Stack Is 80. Strategy Depends On Effective Stacks, Not The Size Of Either Player's Own Stack.
- [Blocker](https://smarter.poker/glossary/blocker) ([Markdown](https://smarter.poker/glossary/blocker.md)): A Blocker Is A Card In Your Hand That Reduces The Number Of Combos Of A Particular Hand Your Opponent Can Hold. Holding The Ace Of Hearts On A Board With Three Hearts Means The Opponent Cannot Have The Nut Flush. Blockers Guide The Choice Of Which Hands To Bluff With And Which Marginal Hands Can Call.

## Related Strategy Lessons

- [What To Do When You Face A 3-Bet](https://smarter.poker/learn/facing-a-3-bet) ([Markdown](https://smarter.poker/learn/facing-a-3-bet.md)): Facing A Three Bet After Opening, Most Of An Opening Range Folds: In The Smarter.Poker Reference A Button Opener Four Bets 4.1% Of All Starting Hands And Calls 3.2%, And An Under The Gun Opener Four Bets 2.9% And Calls 1.6%.
- [Blockers: How Your Cards Change Theirs](https://smarter.poker/learn/blockers) ([Markdown](https://smarter.poker/learn/blockers.md)): A Blocker Is A Card In Your Hand That Makes Certain Hands Impossible Or Less Likely For Your Opponent: Holding One Ace Cuts Your Opponent's Ace King Combinations From 16 To 12, Which Makes Some Bluffs And Calls Better Than They Look.

## Practice On Smarter.Poker

- [Preflop Charts](https://smarter.poker/hub/preflop-charts): Opening And Defending Ranges By Position.
- [Preflop Range Matrix Guide](https://smarter.poker/features/preflop-charts-matrix): 169-Hand Preflop Charts Across 15BB To 100BB Stack Depths.
- [GTO Training](https://smarter.poker/hub/training): Scenario Based Poker Training, Free To Play.

## Compliance & Fair Play

There Is No Real-Money Gambling On Smarter.Poker: Club Chips Are Play Credits With No Cash Value, And Diamonds Are A Promotional Rewards Currency.