Do you join tournaments based on how many people there are, how many strong players join the tournament or if you have a chance at getting money?

Or if you have anything else to add please do, but dont include the setting, entry fee, prize fund.

Basically I only play in OTB tournaments that fit my schedule. The only tournaments that I play in where I have changed my schedule were FIDE rated tournaments or major opens (i.e. U.S. Opens) that are within a few hundred mile radius.

I have the same fantasy about 4th Category Kyle.

I can't travel like I used to, and there are seldom tournaments in easy driving distance - at least ones I would consider.

Prize money is important, not intending to win it all, but because it draws strong players.  I want to play as strong a field as possible.  Also, slower time controls suit me best.  The distance, cost of accommodations, entry fee/prize fund ratio, and dates are all important, too.

No matter where you live, the World Open is a good trip.  It's the best open event I've attended, although I haven't made it in a few years.  I always played in the Open section, where any small success earns a pairing against an IM or maybe a GM, and even when I had a bad event I still played all masters.

Thanks guys, The reason I was asking was because TD's usually advertise their tournaments and say stuff like "many strong players are registered including so and so and so rated 2500, 2450, 2400" and I always wondered if thats what attracted strong players, personally I would join based on travel (closer it is more likely ill join regardless of the people who entered).

I play to win money only

I only enter tournaments that my OTB chess friends are attending. I like to drink beer whilst I play, which pretty much rules out driving myself.