A few questions for experienced holdem players

[sejje]

1) If I have good high pockets (not a pair, say AQ) and a flop comes up that is no good to me (say 10 7 3), should I be folding them or holding on for a high pair?

Did we raise this preflop? We should have, and therefore we are betting most flops. Usually fold with a bet in front of you on the flop, or if someone behind you raises.

2) If I have a decent pocket pair (10 up?) and the flop brings a straight or flush possibility, what are the odds that my pair will hold up? Assuming it's high pair, that is.

Depends on what your opponents are holding, obviously, and if you hit a set or not. Basically this is a HUGE depends. I just play big pairs fast and hard and watch out for overcards and really obvious things, like four to a flush.

3) If everybody else just pays the big blind and I have something cruddy (low connectors or low suited cards or something) should I pay the blind to see the flop anyway?

As someone noted, I would wait until you're more experienced. Also in a home tournament (I'm guessing you're playing this) you're probably short-stacked, so I'd say no.

That being said, these are ideal conditions to play those types of hand IF you choose to.