MYSQL - Don't add to query if string is empty - mysql

Question

I have a query that selects based on multiple things. For example, game_name is a string that can be empty if the user so chooses. Is there any way to not do the searching part for game_name if the input is "" but still look for the others?
$stmt = $connection->prepare("SELECT * FROM $config->tablename WHERE id = ? OR game_name = ? OR gamer_tag = ? LIMIT ?");
$stmt->bind_param("ssss", $request->id, $request->game_name, $request->gamer_tag, $request->limit);

Answer 1

You should do a little workaround to control it and when the user wants the field to be empty, you should control that and add to query something like this:
convert this
game_name = ?
into this
game_name = ? OR game_name = game_name
So this will make always to be true for that field.
EDIT:
Combining #Amado's solution and my proposal resolves in less IF statements (only my POV).
$MyWhere = "id = ? OR gamer_tag = ? OR game_name = ?"
if(game_name !="") $MyWhere = $MyWhere." OR game_name = game_name";
$stmt = $connection->prepare("SELECT * FROM $config->tablename WHERE ".$MyWhere." LIMIT ?");
$stmt->bind_param("ssss", $request->id, $request->gamer_tag, $request->game_name, $request->limit);

Answer 2

You can add a little checking before performing the query:
$MyWhere = "id = ? OR gamer_tag = ?"
if(game_name !="") $MyWhere = $MyWhere." Or game_name = ?";
$stmt = $connection->prepare("SELECT * FROM $config->tablename WHERE ".$MyWhere." LIMIT ?");
if(game_name !=""){
$stmt->bind_param("ssss", $request->id, $request->game_name, $request->gamer_tag, $request->limit);
}
else{
$stmt->bind_param("sss",$request->id,$request->gamer_tag, $request->limit);
}