Small movements and half tables

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When the number of tables is low and you still require a Mitchell movement when you have a half table, there is one problem; the sit-out pairs have to sit out for a large number of boards. With 3½ tables a Howell is the only movement that should be used. With 4½, 5½ and 6½ tables, the appendix Howell is still the best, with the possible exception of 5½ tables where there is either 22 or 33 boards in play in the Howell. With these last three using standard Mitchells the minimum number of boards that a pair sits out for is 4 (at least half an hour). The same thing happens with rover Mitchells. However if you do not have Howell guide cards, this problem can be solved the following way.

Set up a Mitchell for the base number of tables (i.e. 4, 5, or 6 tables) using the share and relay version with the even tables. Use only an even number of boards per table (i.e. place 4 or 6 boards on each table). This basic movement will be run as a standard SWITCH Mitchell. The extra pair will play as a roving pair, with the exception that they start play after the first pair they are going to replace, has played half the boards in play on the first round. From then on the roving pair replaces the N-S pair for half the boards on each round and the E-W pair for the other half of the boards. This way the sit-out pairs only sit out for 2 or 3 boards. Care must be taken with the scoring, as one pair does not sit out at all so that factoring of scores is required.

The following schedules show the tables that the roving pairs move to on each round (with the E-W pair they replace after half the boards, shown in brackets). The E-W pairs are assigned a pair number equal to their original table number plus the number of tables in the movement.

In the movements the N-S pairs are assumed to remain stationary, the E-W pairs move up one table and the boards down one table.

4 Tables:

2, 3(6), 1(7), 4(5)*

5 Tables:

1, 3(7), 5(8), 2(9), 4(10)*

6 Tables:

1, 3(8), 5(9), 2(11), 4(12)* 6(7)*

* These are switch rounds and the pairs are replaced in reverse order.

The roving pair in these movements will be assigned a pair number equal to 2N+1 where N = the number of tables in the base.
For further treatment of half table problems see the section on appendix Mitchells. For 3½ tables see extra board movements.