"How about splitting tens? nines? Standing on 12 against a ten? Especially when the next two cards are a seven followed by a
five and the dealer has a six in the hole and you had a 20!"

Never split tens

Split the nines against 2-9, except for the 17 (play the 18 to win over the dealer's 17)

Hit the twelve against a 2 or 3 up (I hate that rule), not against the 4-6, hit against the 7-A

I just play basic strategy, and hope the rest of the table does too. As soon as Katie finds a 25 cent table, I'll play with the wild bunch!!! <g>