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

[RPMick]

I can speak from a tournament standpoint only. We don't mind playing short handed $ games.

I take a 10% rake off the tournament buyin and that $ goes to a Player of the Year pool. To reserve your seat I need your fee paid before 10 others get it to me.

That said, I usually have someone who either tags along or is in the standby slot. (The wife is even learning to play.) If someone doesn't show, the standby falls in and their fee still goes into the POY pool.

Win, win situation.

Other than that, you need a nice table, nice chips, nice cards. Then people will come.

-Ryan