In the FIDE Dutch Pairing System, a "float" is when a player is not paired against an opponent with the same score.  A player "downfloats" when he is paired with an opponent in a lower score group, and a player "upfloats" if he is the opponent of a downfloating player.  A player who has no opponent (such as a game with a forfeit or a bye) is also considered to have had a downfloat.

    The FIDE Dutch Pairing System takes into account a player's recent floats (in addition to a player's previous opponents, score and color history) when making pairings.

    The following float abbreviations are used by the SwissSys pairing program, developed by Thad Suits.

Float information here (and in the wall chart and pair chart if desired) is shown according to the following conventions:

          U = Player just had an upfloat.

          u = Player had an upfloat two rounds back.

          D = Player just had a downfloat.

          d = Player had a downfloat two rounds back.

          x = Player is ineligible for the bye (not shown in wall chart.)

Colors due are shown using the following conventions: w = mildly due white (due white for alternation); W = strongly due white (for equalization); WW = due white to avoid three consecutive colors or other illegal imbalance. And similarly for players due black.

PENALTY FOR NOT PROVIDING PROPER NOTICE OF NOT PLAYING NEXT ROUND

Any player not playing the next round is required to inform the Tournament Director of this at least one hour before the next round. If your game is still in progress one hour before the start of the next round, you are required to inform the Tournament Director no later than ten minutes after your game ends if you will not play the next round.

Players who do not play the next round and fail to provide the required notice, as defined above, will be subject to a $100 fine in a FIDE-rated section, or a $50 fine in a non-FIDE-rated section. These fines must be paid in order to participate in any future rounds of any CCA tournament.

To allow for timely player withdrawals while still conforming with FIDE policies, pairings for the next round of FIDE-rated sections will not be posted until after the above deadline, for players to provide proper notice of their intention not to play the next round, has passed.