How do chess players afford tournaments? I can't and I'm a middle class person.

I'm a middle class person. I still can't afford the tournaments because of the fact that they last three days in my area and I think you'd have to rent a hotel room for two days. These are local tournaments. How do other chess players afford tournaments? Is my desciption accurate? Do your tournaments last three days. Btw, I'm in the Los Angeles area. 

Edit: I want to be a grandmaster someday, but might not even be able to becasue of this issue. I wonder if they can afford it based on previous results in elementary tournaments?

In my area there are only small weekend tournaments (usually 4 games on Saturday which are around G/50 or G/70).  The entry fees are usually not over $40.

If you have smaller tournaments in your area, maybe you could try them.  If you're under master level you'll probably face players around your strength. (If not you can simply collect first prize)

If they're in you area, maybe you could just drive to them each day instead of renting a hotel room.

When they're local like that some people opt to drive to the site every day instead of pay hotel expenses.

Anyway I think in LA there'd be many 1 day small events.

Organizers are happy to have the extra entry fees.  People can play 2 out of 3 days at a tournament and just withdraw at the end of the 2nd day.  You can also talk to the organizer and see if they're willing to give you byes the first day and you play the 2nd and 3rd day.

some tournaments offer a 2 or 3 day schedule.  you may want to see if anyone you know goes to tournaments and share the hotel room with them.  it helps cut down on the expenses.

I think he actually means that he doesn't have the money.

Gamble. And get rich.

If you were a super famous GM, like Anand and Carlsen, that would be no problem, because there are sponsors.

As an amateur, however, it can indeed became expensive.

Professional players that have not yet achieved the high class level suffer way more, I believe, because they are often without sponsors and need to gain enough money from tournaments to compensate the expenses and fees and also make a living.   

I do actually mean I don't have the money. I think one thing you guys should know is that I am a middle schooler when answering these questions. We have enough money as a household to go to one, but it's the issue of staying in a hotel. If we kept driving there three times and back, it would be even more expensive because of gas. They are to far away to just do that. They're still in my area, but they aren't that many near me.

How were Anand and Carlsen able to play in these type of elementary tournaments? I don't mean them specifically, but how did these GMs manage to get into elementary tournaments and start their career.

Yes, I agree. If you guys scroll up a little, you'll see that I actually knew what he meant. Why? Because I knew that he's a middle schooler.

join your local chess club. There will be tournaments all the time, and they won't cost any extra, they will be just part of being a member of the club. I just joined my local chess club, and its tournament all the time. Its awesome. Do it. And if there isn't a chess club in your town, find the closest town that has one. 

We are looking into that. I didn't know this about clubs. Do you get an ELO rating in there?

No ELO ratings, but seeing your ratings here, as constructive critisism, not to add offense, I think it would be a good learning experience to play in a chess club before attempting any of the serious tourneys.

Don't troll me about spelling peeps. I know I suck. :)

at my club, which I've been a member of for ten weeks, you need to be a member of the national chess association. So we get an elo rating, yes. But at our evel an elo rating is reallly not important. whats imp is to have fun and to learn. 

I have local G60's and G45's 4 rounds for 10 bucks

Wow! Have bullets really become that expensive?

Hi Derek,

I see you're in La Mirada.  That's not far from where I live now, and where I went to high school.

There's usually a couple of decent size tournaments each year in Agoura Hills.  That's about 90 minutes from where we are.  The time factor is what is the problem here, not the money.  (No one wants to spend a total 3 hours on the road each day, to get to and from.)  But if money is the issue, the cost of gas to and from is still a lot cheaper than getting a hotel room.

The large American Open is alway played in Southern Cal and this year will be near Disneyland, just down the street from us.

There's usually a couple of decent size tourneys each year at the hotels near LAX.  These tourney's are close enough you certainly don't need to get a room.   It's just a 30 minute (or so) drive.

There was a Labor Day tourney in San Diego and for that event, one night I drove back up here, just because I wanted cut down on my expenses.

As Dark_Knight mentioned, for the times when you DO need to get a room, say for a tourney in Vegas, it's common to find a roommate, someone else who is playing in the tourney, and split the cost.

And yes, many of these tourneys have a 2-day option, so you don't HAVE to enter the 3-day schedule. 

There are ways to cut down the expenses.  Sometimes you just have to be a bit creative.

The second weekend of November there's a tourney in Irvine.  That one is also close enough that no room is needed.

I think there might be more tourneys that are nearby than you thought.

How are you finding out about these?