This is a recurring trip that my brother and I have been doing for the past 3 years. This year we added the other bro(the original goat boy more about that later in the saga) and 3 good friends. No names to be mentioned to protect the stays in Vegas tradition (although I am a little disappointed with the chick who sold tiger out, she clearly didn't get the memo!) i may not focus to much on poker hands rather the best of the trip experiences.

We booked a trip through expedia which seems to have a lot of great deals to Vegas particularly if you are flying from Toronto, which we were. We were not looked for luxury just a bed would be fine, therefore we took the best deal we could find which put us at the Imperial Palace. I have no complaints at all with the hotel, yes its old, there is nothing special about the rooms, the beds are average having said that you can sleep on them. After all we were not in our rooms much so spending big bucks on the room made little sense.

We arrive on an early morning flight, which got us there before noon. We had rented 2 cars, cheaper than a van, for the entire stay. Off to the car rental facility expecting a big line. Our car company was thrifty, best deal shortest line. Go figure. Last time we were in town we rented with dollar, huge line and again this time at the dollar area. Food for thought.

We arrived at our hotel just after lunch, checked in right away no lineup at all, rooms were ready and we were dining before 1pm. Most of the group had been to Vegas before (except one) but never a trip with just the boys.

Now for the strange title, not much of a story but here it is. We planned to play in a tournament every day/night. All six of us had to play. We were in 2 teams, team goat boy as 3 of the boys were sporting the latest goatee fashion. (my youngest bro grew one specific for the trip) The other group of us, me included were the melon heads, for our alleged large heads. Breakfast was on the line as follows, one member of the team had to make the money, the one who went the furthest won breakfast the next morning for his team. The score at the end of the week, Goat boys 3 - Melons zippo!!!!

For me I stuck to 99 percent poker, stayed away from the table games and the life sucking slot machines. The other group members played it all including games that they had no idea how to play...(the alcohol factor)

The drinking pretty much started during lunch and continued until we boarded the plane home. The boys decided that let in ride at our home hotel was the first stop, for me the poker room at the imperial palace for the first time.

The tables I thought were huge, sit the end and its hard to see the cards which begs the question as to why no casino has the over sized cards at least none that I saw. Anyway back to the imperial. Only game I could get into was a 2-4 limit game. I don't play very much limit although I can see that you could make some cash at this game as everybody takes it right to the river.

I had a very good week, between hitting bonuses and just playing well I managed to come home with a few hundred bucks more that I took down. I often think people tend to embellish a little when writing these reports. In this case you will have to trust me on this, I hit 4 sets of quads all for a bonus (75 to 100 bucks) and had aces cracked twice for 100 bucks each. In fact I hit quads twice at the imperial id say within 10 hands of each other.

This was the session I hit the quads on. The group at the table were mostly local very entertaining lot looking to get their aces cracked. With the bonuses I was up after the first session and my bros wanted me to buy dinner....(Not) I didn't mind the imperial poker room at all, its not real busy but everyone was very friendly including the players and we all had a great time. Hitting the bonuses made for a much nicer session!

Our first tournament choice was the 7pm at the Mirage. On registration they were quick to point out the 15 percent hold back as we were from out of the country. They were the only poker room to do that all week, in fact the only poker room to do so in all of our previous trips. We did tell them this but they didn't seem to care. Oh well we took our tourney cash to other rooms for the balance of the week.

Not many players registered in the tourney, id say 30 in all. I sat at a table with a bunch of beginners, a couple of TV watchers and 1 internet player whom I will call the 350,000 dollar man or knob for short!
I bust out early to the cheers of team goat boy, here is the hand that really sent me on tilt.....

Im in the big blind I have just over starting stack left. The 350K knob has been raising with shit most of the time, he was up and down. He is 3rd to act with one caller at this point and he pushes all in. I get the "lets get the blind allin move, it folds around to me with AK. I call and he shows K5 off suited. When I turn over he lets out the knob whine and looks at me with disgust.

I don't know why, what did he think I was calling with K4. Needless to say he spikes a 5 on the river and takes down the pot fist pumping away. I still had chips left but was pretty much crippled. The melon that I am I had to say something, I commented on his stellar play asking him if he was the guy that kept beating me on pokerstars. His reply - my online name is zildabob (or something like that) and I have 350000 lifetime winnings. I merely said "of course you do" and he was ready to slug it out spilling his grape nehi on Big Tex who was beside him. Big Tex gives him the look and tells him to shut his hole and play poker not bingo to which he wisely agreed. He was out about 5 mins later on a similar hand muttering to himself as he left the room. Don't you love Vegas and its only day one!!!
As I said I bust out early with team goat boy cheering away. In fact their whole table stood up and clapped when I was knocked out. They were having a good time!!! No one made the cash on the first night so no one on the hook for breaky, which was really lunch by the time anyone got up!!

The Mirage room is nice but it isn't anywhere near the big boys. New chairs and tables since my last visit which were nice although no cup-holders in the tables..... The tables close to the rail can be a little smokey. Dealers are good some friendly and some no so much. I enjoyed the limit tables a lot more fun that the no limit tables and your money can last a lot longer.... back to the trip

Its 330am and I am just in bed, the phone rings. This cant be good...... It is little bro needing some help..... Where are you, and what the hell have you done. Ive lost, we will call him Chuck the melon head. Last I saw he was with some chick from Philly............ Ever see the movie hangover......... Anyway Im up out of bed looking for tigers and shit, none to be found. We find Chucky baby a couple of casinos away on his 700 hundredth spice rum punch.....bed I need to sleep..... part 2 to come