We used to always split to 2 tables once we hit 11 - so one table of 5 and one of 6. Last year we had a game with a late rsvp'er and I didn't have the second table set up - we squeezed in 11 and everyone much preferred the larger table instead of starting the tourney with two tables of 5/6. So now we do 1 table up to 11, than split to 2 tables of 6 each at players.
If you have 2 full(ish) tables to start, you want to balance the tables so there's never more than +1 at one table. So if you start with 2 tables of 10 and 2 guys get eliminated from table 1, one guy gets moved from table 2 to table 1 so there's 9 each instead of 10/8.
For moving players, if you're going strictly by Robert's Rules, here's how it's handled:
15. In button games, if a player is needed to move from a table to balance tables, the player due for the big blind will be automatically selected to move, and will be given the earliest seat due for the big blind if more than one seat is open.
For my games, we typically we use one of the following methods:
- The player at the highest populated sitting in the same seat (relative to the button) as the empty seat at the lowest populated table will be moved.
- The player on the button at the highest populated table will be moved to the seat to the right of the button at the lowest populated table.
- The tournament computer software or the tournament director will select the player to be moved from the highest populated table to the seat to the right of the button at the lowest populated table.
#1 is nice because people don't have to get up and re-arrange seats - given my place has limited space, this works best for us. The slight disadvantage to this method is that you could potentially move from one table to another and sit down with 8 brand new players - on the big blind. #2 corrects this, but will likely require everyone to shuffle seats. I reserve the right to #3 for the rare instance when one player has a commanding chip lead and is "scheduled" to move per #1 or #2 - I'd rather pick someone else than have a very large imbalance of chips between tables.
We recombine to one table at 9-10 players - 9 if there's someone available to steady deal. I have seating chips that go in a Crown Royal bag, everyone draws for their seat order at the final table, button goes to seat chip #1.