Downfloat

A downfloat occurs when a player from a higher scoregroup plays an opponent from a lower one. In pairing terms, that player has been moved downward to form a pair across different scoregroups.

In the FIDE Dutch system, when two participants with different scores play, the higher-ranked player receives a downfloat and the lower-ranked player an upfloat. FIDE also records a downfloat for a player receiving a pairing-allocated bye or, without playing, scoring more points in a round than a loss would award.

Downfloat does not mean a drop in tournament place or a penalty. The mark itself does not change the player's score. In the usual cross-scoregroup case, the player faces someone from a lower scoregroup; the no-game cases described above are administrative exceptions.