Imperfect Howell-Mitchell movement

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There are several methods of adding tables to the combined Howell-Mitchell movement in order to cater for numbers of tables, which the perfect form does not.

By adding one table to the movement the number of tables catered for is where T Modulus 3 = 0 (i.e. 9, 12, 15…).

Method 1

The first method adds one table to the Mitchell movement, so that now there will be an even number of tables. This means that there is one more round in the Mitchell than in the Howell.

This can be handled in one of two ways:

·

For the first round the Howell does not play, and the Mitchell shuffles and deals and then duplicates the boards without playing them. A set of boards is then passed to the Howell for playing (less one set of boards) and the Mitchell moves as in a skip Mitchell, skipping after half way and playing the last set of boards against the pair with whom they dealt and duplicated the first set of boards. This way all pairs play the same number of boards. One set of boards is only played in the Mitchell and must be factored up to the "Top" on all other boards.

·

The Mitchell plays the first set of boards and having done so, duplicates the boards for use in the Howell. The Mitchell movement used is the share and relay type. In this method the Mitchell plays one more set of boards than the Howell movement and the Howell pairs' scores are factored up accordingly.

The three groups of pairs are all the same size and equal to the number of tables in the Mitchell. Therefore there is no stationary pair in the Howell movement.
   
Method 2

The second method is to add one table to the Howell via the standard appendix method. When using this method there is no need to factor scores, for all pairs play the same number of boards.

The two extra pairs in the Howell remain there for the whole event occupying the same seats at all times. This means that the three groups of pairs that rotate after each session remain the same as in the perfect form.

When using this method the duplication of the boards only becomes necessary when the number of boards in each set is less than 3, for then the sharing of boards between three tables is not possible.

By using a combination of both methods described above, it is possible to add two tables to the movement so that numbers of tables where T Modulus 3 = 1 are catered for (i.e. 10, 13, 16...).

The recommended method is to add one table to the Mitchell and append one table to the Howell. The three groups of pairs are equal to the number of tables in the Mitchell. The stationary pairs in the Howell (those at the appendix table) are the only ones that play at the same positions throughout the event.

The share and relay movement probably should be used. The players in the Mitchell play the first round before duplicating the boards for the Howell movement.