Heavy flavour tagging and QCD tests in four-jet events at LEP1

We present a theoretical review of the possibilities offered by heavy flavour tagging in testing QCD features in 4-jet events at LEP1. Attention is focused mainly on the properties of the angular variables which are used in the experimental analyses to measure the colour factors of the strong interactions. We also comment on a possible settlement of the ongoing controversy about the existence in LEP1 data of SUSY events involving light gluinos. Integrated and differential rates of interest to phenomenological analyses are given and various tagging procedures are discussed.