There’s a website article somewhere I read about whether or not it is a good idea to “straddle” but I have no idea what that is.  Could someone help me here?

Answers:

Straddling is like posting a voluntary blind twice the size of the big blind.  In a 4-8 game, the small blind is $2, the BB is $4, and a straddler might put up a straddle of $8.  In essence, it’s like raising the blind before looking at your cards. Some (most?) rooms rule that a straddle is live, meaning that the straddler has the option to raise when the action comes back to him (just like how the blinds have the option to raise).

Straddling is something i encourage, but don’t do.  =)  I MIGHT do it if I knew it would loosen the game up (it often does if you get a couple guys in a row to follow).  Two nights ago a guy straddled two rounds in a row and got AA BOTH TIMES.