To split, put up another bet to match your first one and you wind up playing 2 hands instead of 1. When you split aces, most casinos only let you get 1 extra card for each ace. Splitting is a good way to kick some casino booty. In most casinos, if you get 10 or 11 on your first 2 cards, you can turn them face up, double your bet and get 1 more card. At the Silver Club, you can double down on any first 2 cards.
Most casinos offer insurance for cases when the dealer's up card is an ace.
If you want to, you can take insurance in case the dealer has 21. You place up to of your bet on the table. If the dealer has 21 with their first 2 cards you lose your original bet, but win your insurance bet. If the dealer doesn't have 21, you lose the insurance bet and the game goes on as usual. Don't follow them and everybody else at your table will take you for a dim bulb who doesn't belong anywhere near a casino.