IMO... I think 9-handed is better suited for patient, disciplined, pragmatic players; as opposed to 6-handed which is generally a bit more of an 'action' game. It's best for players that can wait for long(er) periods for premium cards and ideal situations. Those who can identify when to slow play the nuts because the opponent is likely to have made a strong 2nd best hand and is likely to bet more than they would call and things like that. 9-handed is a slower and (usually) tighter game. Because there are one-third more players being dealt each hand, its somewhat more likely that a premium starting hand has been dealt to someone. The dealer is typically going to deal fewer hands per hour as well, which tends to get boring for those with even a sprinkle of ADD. And finally, with more players, heartbreakers and coolers like set-over-sets are also a little more common, so if you're destined to showdown the hand, make sure it's the 'right' set. But, the blinds come around less frequently, so being ultra-selective pre-flop and mucking marginal starters isn't punished as harshly.