6 max versus 9 max

When I select an MTT NLHE to play, the only thing I'm looking for is a BI+EF (buy in plus entry fee) of $20,000; I don't look at the maximum number of players at the table. As it turns out, roughly half of the MTT NLHEs I've played have been 6 max and the other half have been 9 max. Here's the breakdown:

    delta players count

 $280,512       6   129
 $661,636       9   122

At first glance, it appears that 9 max is the way to go. However, when I remove the outlier from the 9 max results, we see a different picture:

    delta players count

 $280,512       6   129
$-193,964       9   121

There are advantages and disadvantages to both 6 max and 9 max. Not surprisingly, what's an advantage to one is a disadvantage to the other. Here's my take:

main 6 max advantage:  "coolers" are less likely to happen
main 6 max disadvantage: blinds come around more frequently

main 9 max advantage: blinds come around less frequently
main 9 max disadvantage: "coolers" are more likely to happen

From a player's perspective, the ideal tournament would start out at 6 max and morph to 9 max in the final stages. That would allow players to be protected from coolers in the beginning, and would mitigate the damage the escalated blinds inflict at the end. Of course, no poker room would ever run a tournament that way :-)

style flavor buy_in entry players hands entries paid place winnings

MTT   NLHE    16500  3500       9     4     511  108     -        0
MTT   NLHE    18000  2000       9    15     249   63   125        0
MTT   NLHE    17500  2500       6    61     369   96    86    26400

delta: $-33,600
MTT NLHE balance: $942,148
balance: $10,588,980