This is the most desirable form of the Howell-Mitchell movement. Even though the procedure just described of moving the boards appears to be straightforward, boards are still misplaced and sometimes not moved at all. This movement overcomes that problem.
Two rows of tables of equal length are set up parallel to each other. One row is the Mitchell and the other a stationary board Howell. The boards are distributed on the Mitchell tables and the Howell shares boards with these tables, as they are needed.
After each round the boards are returned to the Mitchell tables so that they will be available for the next round in the Mitchell. Even if they are not returned there is no real problem, for when the pairs arrive for the next round and find they are lacking some boards they simply retrieve them from the Howell table next to them.
In this movement the N-S pairs on the Mitchell move up one table and the E-W pairs move down one table. All pairs move in the Howell (see stationary board Howell movement).
The disadvantage with this movement is that more tables are required than are being used, but this usually does not present a problem.
Another advantage with this form is in the use of board switching in the Mitchell. The recommended method is the N-S and E-W pairs swap directions for the last third of the event. This eliminates many of the problems associated with board switching.
Be sure to advise the pairs to move in the same direction as they originally were moving. If the N-S pairs were moving up one table, then after the switch they still will be moving up one table as E-W.
