I was just playing in a live 1/2 full ring game at the casino. It's a cash game. Table is very loose and a typical bet seems to range from $10 to $15. Average stack sizes are about $300 each and my stack is currently about $500. I pick up pocket tens in the cut-off and 1 limper enters the pot before me. I bet $15 and the small blind who is short stacked pushes all-in for $55. Limper folds and it's on me. In my experience in live games a short stacker will 3-bet all-in with a range of usually Ax, any pocket pairs, and the trouble hands like KQ. I want to be a bitter tighter on my analysis and put him on a range of any pocket pair/A9 to Ak/KQ/KJ/QJ, therefore, pot equity of 59% against that range. Therefore my pot equity would be [($55+$55)*59%] = $65 and it's only $40 more for me to call. I call and run into JJ but get lucky by flopping trip tens. I have 2 questions:

1. Was this worth a call? I only need a pot equity of 36% [$40/($55+$55)] therefore if I give him a range of pocket AA/KK/QQ/AK my equity would be 36% and no way can I put him on a range that tight. So I think it was an insta-call. Some people were calling me a donky because they said I was either behind or coin flipping but when I work the math out its a total insta-call.

2. What range of hands would you put a short stacker on (let's assume an average live player with a VPIP of about 30). I'm just looking for some average range rule for short stackers. On my limited experience it appears to be any Ax/any pocket pairs/the typical trouble hands

You answered question #1 all by yourself. And the very people who called you a donkey would have said "nice call" if the SB flipped up 99.

As for question 2, I doubt he's shoving as wide as any Ace, maybe on down through A6. He'll probably have all pairs in his range. KQ you can probably put in his range. maybe KJ or QJ. It's hard to give a good range without seeing the player in action though.

Instacall at live 1/2. I've seen people in spots like this shove down to 78s. Unless you have a specific read that this guy wont stack off without a big hand, then snap this one.

Also, there is a direct relationship between how many players think you are a donk, and your EV at the table. Just the fact that you worked out ranges and such means that you are miles ahead of 90% of live 1/2 players.

Against an unknown live 1/2 villian I'd insta-call here and wouldn't be even slightly surprised if he had something totally crazy like T9s.

Btw, your opponents all suck and there is no reason to listen to them.... well they are giving away massive tells about their own play when they talk but I mean there is no reason to take their advice. There is a fairly good chance that every single one of your opponents at the table was an overall loser at poker.

Id think that you made the right decision by not insta-calling, but thinking awhile and then calling since live people start to make some really ******ed plays while shortstacked.

+1

Super easy call.