Re: How to make sure enough players show up for poker night?
 

re: late players

Only time it's ever a problem is in a tournament. In the freeroll I run I just put the chips down and they get blinded off (I go check every so often to make sure no one is sniping chips). If the're not in thier seat at the end of the first hour they forfeit. The first hour is also the first break and the color up/chip race red.

I use stack penalties
 

If they show up late, they have a full buy-in for a reduced stack

Over 3 minutes into 1st round= -5%
Start of 2nd round= 10%
Start of 3rd round = 20%
Start of 4th round- wait for cash games.

That way, you don't put extra chips into play if they don't show up, yet there isn't an advantage to coming late.

Re: I use stack penalties
 

did not read through the entire thread, here is my solution to the problem i had before.

start an online sign up board via Forums. a friend of mine hosts a site and i asked him to host forums for us, he said sure...and now he plays with us. that works well, i post when the games are, and when we get 10 ppl signed up, that is that.

late players, wait until 10 minutes after the scheduled time, then start posting blinds for them and fold their hands. make sure you tell all players about this ahead of time.