Hey guys,

I'm absolutely new to poker, but I've been spending time reading some beginners guides and memorizing the odds charts and pocket card order and stuff like that - my friends and I have started playing (no limit) holdem every week or 2. I'm very linear brained and have a strong background in mathematics so I play pretty tight and by the book. That said, I've read guides on what to do with pocket cards of all sorts, but nobody ever seems to go beyond that very much. Can you experienced guys give me your opinions on:

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?

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.

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?

Thanks,

Nic