Online ratings are meaningless. But your FIDE rating, which derives from playing actual classical chess in-person, means everything. Attaining a good FIDE rat

Online ratings are meaningless. But your FIDE rating, which derives from playing actual classical chess in-person, means everything. Attaining a good FIDE rating is the difference between being able to make a living off the game and not. Online ratings are in fact so meaningless that eligibility for major online tournaments is based on your FIDE rating, not your online rating. It's the difference between cheating at a casual Poker game at home with no money staked and cheating at the World Series of Poker when serious money is at stake.