How do you place vias in 4 layer boards effectively

[RaptorUK]

You should look here:

Approaching PCB track routing for a newbie

If you’re concerned about EMC, then this is a very good video. It’s a tad long (over two hours) but it’s worth it. [[LIVE] How to Achieve Proper Grounding - Rick Hartley - Expert Live Training (US)] at around 1:40:00 some 4 layer stackups are mentioned, and the (simplistic) conclusion is more ground is more better.