A10s Flop Shove

Table dynamics - lots of limp/calling large portions of stacks pre flop. Pre flop raise sizing was all over the board where sometimes a $10 raise got 0 callers and a $50 raise from UTG got 4 callers. These players are not positionally aware and just play their cards. And their cards do not represent premium hands – just whether they ‘like it’ or not. Example; a $50 pre flop raise got called by 35s and the $50 call was >50% of their stack (and the raiser’s hand was K10o). These players like to gamble pre and they do not play fit or fold post.

So… on this particular hand, there were 4 limpers hero in BB with As10s.

I thought about limping behind but I felt A10s was well ahead of all their ranges (even the UTG range since I saw him limp/call several times with a wide variety of hand ranges).

Question 1 - Should I have just limped with this type of hand and table/players?

On the flop, I checked due to the multi nature of the pot.

Question 2 - should I have bet out on the flop? And if a bet, shove since SPR is ~2 (bet would be a large portion of ES)? Or bet small due to low SPR?

Question 3 - as played, should hero have shoved or folded on the flop?

Thought process on flop was that a call represented ~50% of ES so it was either a shove or a fold (plus I was not getting direct pot odds to make the call). I didn’t think I had much fold equity but with 9 outs plus the A as a possible out, I gave myself 10 outs x 4 = 40% and the pot odds if called would be 36% so I believe shoving was correct but would like verification (and/or any correction to though process) please.

From a range perspective, I did not put UTG1 on a premium hand since he limped and then just called my pre flop raise, with multiple players still left to act behind him. On the flop, I put him on either Kx or lesser flush draw.

[If this next section is answered in a separate post I completely understand since it is related to the above hand analysis but asks for more in-depth analysis of strategy and exploitive play]

On another topic, I really need help with these types of games/players (they are regulars where I play and it is the only game in town so I have no choice). I need help based on the table/player dynamics as described above, as well as the fact that the game usually plays shallow (even at 100bbs stacks) so I am often all-in either pre or post flop. Or, even if the game becomes deeper, if there are multiple callers pre, the SPR is still so low that top pair (or even 2^nd pair if SPR is 1 or less) shouldn’t be folded. Also, because the game is shallow, I fold a lot of hands pre flop due to 1. Hand equity does not equal size of bet necessary to thin the field, or 2. there is a raise and a 3-bet would be pot committing and, again, the hand not a premium hand worth playing for 100bb stacks, or 3. there is a raise and can’t call based on calling criteria. Consequently, I find myself tightening up my pre flop ranges and therefore do not play a whole lot of hands. But when I do play, it is not unusual to play for stacks or large pots. The end result is that I have big wins, but I also have big losses (3 buy-in stop loss). I understand this game has a high variance aspect but I also understand this game should be very profitable - but it’s not for me. The big wins are off set by the big losses. I am extremely frustrated and losing confidence. Are there specific exploitative adjustments I can or should be making?

As always, much appreciation for all that you do and provide!!