Select a low minimum bet table: 5% of your bankroll is approximately the maximium that you would like to be wagering per hand, so playing at a  table with a minimum that surpasses that percentage is asking for bother. The risk is that with a high minimum table you run the gamble of losing your bankroll before without chances to recover lost money.

Never split 10s: it might be enticing to play the two hands, but 20 Is not faraway from 21, therefore be pleased with what you have got!

5s Never, 8s Always: a pair of 5s should never be split up but a pair of 8s should be split up in all circumstances except for when the dealer is displaying a 10.

Always split Aces: having a blackjack is, as they say, the name of the game, so splitting up aces gives you two chances to do just that.

Stick on 17; irrespective of what your gut says, simply stick with what you have. Bear in mind that the dealer has to stick on 17, plus if you believe even for a second about the quantity of cards in the deck and how much they add up to you'll shortly realise that the probabilities of getting a 4 or lower are much less than the probabilities of getting a 5 or more - just do not do it!

The fewer decks used the better the odds are for the player; the greatest leap in the house advantage is between one and two decks, but it does grow, all be it to a lesser extent, with every deck added. Thus, in a choice between a single deck and multi deck game, always go for the single deck; in a selection between a 6 deck game and an 8 deck game, always go for the 6 deck.

Rules deviate from table to table, therefore the more player-friendly rules a table plays by the better it's for you. Special rules to watch out for are, the surrender rule; double down after splitting pairs; multiple pair splitting; and ace re-splits.
 
Recall that you're only adversary is the dealer, so do not look at anybody else's hand, it is not your business and it will deflect you from your game.

The balance of the advice I received was elementary good sense and money management; do not bet anything you are not willing to lose, set limits, do not gamble when drunk, you know the type. In any case, I hope these hints will be as valuable to you as they were to me.