First post here, long time reader.

I understand that some places work better with certain tides and have noticed similar swells and conditions at metro spots, yet different stages of the moon cycle and can completely change how good a session is. Could anyone help me out with any general knowledge about the best tides, as in the last few months alone, had a session at a quiet beachie away from the metro with a 1.8m sw swell and it was punchy and peaky, then days later a 2.5m sw swell yet it was smaller and useless, wind conditions were similar both days aswell. What Tides work best for your local reefies or beachies? Any help appreciated.

Never really worried about the tides when I lived over west as the diff between low and high is not too significant. Over here in QLD though, can be the difference between crap and excellent within a matter of hours. I find some breaks like the points better on the mid to low tide while beachies better mid to high, really depends on the break and your knowledge of it.

first time I went to sumbawa, I was still an apprentice and was with this crazy, wild eyed, weird, self mumbler from work, who insisted we plan the trip according to the moon cycles to take advantage of the favourable tides and chances of swell...

he was a nightmare to travel with, and I swear very nearly got us killed atleast twice on our month long trip, but we scored.

been going to indo near on twenty years now, still use his formula, works more often than not

can't pass it on, but it's not hard to work out

Yeah very much so mate, especially beachies. Some have really well defined banks with definite hills and valleys in the bottom topography similar to a well shaped reef or point. A clean lined up swell with a high period fits the bill here.
Other beachies are relatively straight and featureless and rely on offshore features like bombies or deepwater channels to focus the swell or break up the swell lines into peaks.
Generally speaking I look for an incoming tide in the top instance(as long as it's not too deep to effect the action of the bank) as the extra push adds even more grunt to the swell. Also an outgoing will form rips that can cause the swell to peak where you don't want it too.
Flat featureless beachies the converse is true, they can be hundred meter long straight handers on an incoming but once the rips start on the outgoing can turn into long sandy dredging pits.