The standard Mitchell movement caters for half tables quite well. The table at which the odd pair is sitting (usually the last table) is treated as a full table for the purposes of distributing boards and determining the type of movement that is to be used. For example an 8½-table movement is treated as a 9-table movement, with three boards placed on each table making a total of 27 boards. Making the N-S pair at table 9 the phantom pair, the E-W pair at that table sits out on each round so that the movement proceeds quite normally to the end. All the N-S pairs will have played 27 boards while all the E-W pairs will have played 24 boards. Note that if you are using stationary boards, the phantom pair should be an E-W pair to facilitate the scoring.
With an even number of tables (including the half table) then the standard SKIP Mitchell should not be used as the pair that sits out on the first round will also have to sit out on the last round. On the other hand, if the movement is to be curtailed before the last round, then it is possible to use this movement. Remember that this method introduces score factoring problems. If the movement is to be curtailed, the rover Mitchell (see below) should be used.
Another alternative with the even number of tables is the standard RELAY Mitchell. Here the odd pair is placed E-W at the highest numbered table (one of the share tables) and all the E-W pairs sit out there. The advantage of this movement is that the relay is effectively removed from the game and the boards being shared are not being played at one of the share tables.
