I play in many tournaments a year. They're just fun to go to.

i PLAY IN ABOUT 40 TOURNAMENTS A YEAR

  What are rated events?

I love rated chess!Can't live without it.Can u? 

Few in my immediate area. Playing online in tourneys is nearly as much fun. Also the time committement can be better handled online

When I play in a Tournament here, it is a rated event!

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i love playing tourneys. i play perhaps twenty to thirty a year.frankly it is the only way to improve.

  I enjoy watching tornaments especially if a friend is playing. I play these days for fun. I still want to improve  but online chess is my cup of tea. The idea of sitting for several hours of intense concentration is not very appealing.I'm 65 and as they say life is too short.I wish I had access to the chess Videos of Chess.com in my younger days. I believe I would be at least a master by now.I rarely play OTB these days.I find online (correspondence) more relaxing & Fun. I like playing people from around the World. I play for fun and to keep my Brain cells active.

I just had a game where i didn´t see my posible # 3 times :P maybe i shouldn´t go to any tourneys this year :D

Do you mean USCF rated?  No way!  Why would I want to spend that much money for USCF membership, plus travel, hotel, etc. Plus tournament entry fee WHEN I can play online here at chess.com against strong players from all over the world or play OTB at our club.  Now I would possibly play rated games OTB if our club did them, but we don't because we meet at Carl's Jr. So it's hard to justify financial or practically.  But we do need to support our IM's and GM's in some way so it's a dilemma. The USCF is necessary but I can't justify the dues and I've been a member in the past starting when I was about 16 years old ... Chess Life in the 70's and 80's was it. Damn glad it's not like that anymore!! Chess.com ROCKS!!!

Pffft...at least 15 

If you enjoy smelling the stench of old men OTB, then yes, real chess is for you... I''ll stick with online chess, thank you very much

OTB chess is also REAL.

Not in the best shape at the moment. Sometimes in the future, yes. First, I have to solve some personal issues and set my life on track...Thanks...

Where's the option for 'There's never any *%*^$* rated chess tournments within a resonable driving distance  '  ?

@Shuffleking74 OTB is a totally different game.  It requires dedicated concentration to a single game for a fixed period of time.  There is someone sitting in front of you, and there are more psycological factors in play.  For people who haven't played OTB before, it can be daunting, but I think most people will love it after the first time.

It's more challenging, but a lot more fun.  I take the opportunity to play OTB every chance I get.

Does this relate to rated tournaments on chess.com or OTB "actually there in real life" tournaments?

What's a rated event?