I'm in Vegas a few times per year - usually once with the wife and the other times are to meet up with my lifelong friends who have spread throughout the country. This was a friends trip, and we were going to play some NL 1/2.

Friday I fly into McCarran at 6pm, meet up with some of my friends and drive to our hotel, THE Casino Royale. This was my first time at this motel, and it's a classic vintage - circa 1975. Not someplace I'd stay with the wife, but with guy friends it fit the bill. We check in, socialize a bit, and by 9pm we are navigating through the seemingly thousands of people crowding Carnival Court on our way to the Imperial Palace poker "room".**
**IMHO - Not really a room, more of a space that's been carved out for some tables between a bar and some noisy slot machines.

We find 3 tables of NL 1/2 and settle in for the night. I'm all business right now, no drinks for me thank you very much... I bought in for $300 and sat down. Table play was very loose/passive with many callers to each flop. Most of my table were putting large amounts of drinks away and the action seemed to pick up throughout the night. I took a hit early when the fellow to my immediate left (who had a habit of calling every bet made in every hand he played right down to the river) made his gutshot str8 to river my flopped set. Oh well. Later in the night I was dealt AA twice in about 20 minutes. First time up I'm in early position and limp, hoping for a raiser. The same fellow on my left (call him conference man) obliges and is called by an Asian guy who I had pegged as solid. I reraise and both call. Flop is A94 with two clubs. I check, conference man bets, Asian guy calls, I go all in and BOTH CALL. uh oh. Turn Q, River 9 and my boat beats conference guys AK and Asian guys big flush. Second time AA came I popped it and was called by a drunken man. I bet and he called each level, and I took down a very nice pot without him showing. Cashed out at 4am +$1700 and headed to bed (or so I thought).

I recently had been quite sick for a couple of weeks leading up to this trip, finally going to the doctor and being diagnosed with bronchitis, which had been getting better prior to the trip. I think flying cross country, being in a smokyish environment and awake for 27 straight hours basically cancelled out my recovery...as I couldn't sleep. Coughing, wheezing, etc...

At 9am, after a couple minor "naps" - I head back to IP figuring I might as well earn if I'm going to be awake. Bad choice there bucko. I take my seat and see that there are some really really large stacks at the table belonging to some really really intoxicated guys who can barely sit upright, have no idea when it's their turn to act, don't know the action, and are taking a loooong time to decide. No problem I say because I want their chips. The leader of this group, aka Chief Drunk, is on my immediate right and usually enters the pot for $25 about 90% of the hands dealt. I sit for a bit, and put his hand range at 72o or better as he shows each and every time. Now at this point, I'm in a robitussion-albuteral-zombie like state but I figure that's good enough to take Chief Drunks chips. I am felted by Chief Drunk twice in about 6 minutes - first by flopping a smaller set than his flopped set, then when I push with AK and he calls with 44 which holds. OK I get it, time for bed.

We're back at the tables by 6pm Saturday and ready for more. I'm now not feeling very well at all but I'm here so let's play. We end the session at 10pm and I'm up $4. Nothing memorable to report, but I must say the IP poker "room" has had several tables going at all times I've been so far. Dealers overall were average, kept action moving, not many mistakes (yetttttt) and my personal fan favorite was Mike from Massachusetts.

Back to the Casino Royale to prepare for a night on the town, but I decide I'm not in a physical state to consume. OK fine, back to IP at midnight for another round. My play continues to deteriorate with my health and I lose my buy in around 5am and head to bed.

Sunday is our final day, as I am leaving first thing Monday. Today I'm going to get it together and do some damage. We hit IP at 2pm and take our seats. Enter the dealer who will remain nameless and who sets the tone for my demise. Three separate times he burns and turns on hands I'm involved with prior to action being completed. Three separate times the floor decides (correctly) to finish the action, bury the exposed turn and re-turn. Three separate times I was miles ahead when counting the original turn card but get crushed on the re-turn. arg is all I can say. Most of my buddies are now spread throughout the room and we start boozing. I continue to slide chips away from my stack and eventually I cash out at 4am to head to McCarran +$300 for the trip - not bad but after my great start, I had expected more. I pick up $400 Delta dollars when they bounce me from my connection, and am already planning my return to Vegas.....

As for the Imperial Palace Poker "Room" - I'll definitely play there again as the competition reminded me of casual home poker players who were in Vegas to primarily have a good time and drink as much as they could while doing so. The dealers were standard, and very friendly for the most part. I didn't like the noisy slots next door, as a walled in room would be better imo. The nearest restroom that I found was a long walk away past the dealertainers and players club. The action at the games seemed to be good and the room often had most tables running. Good offering of high hand payouts. Servers were either hot or cold timeliness wise. For my next guy trip we will probably be staying at IP, as it seemed to offer MUCH more than the Casino Royale for about the same room rate. All in all, good trip, just wish I wasn't dying of the bird flu - but it was a fun trip (aren't they all???)