When Catelyn captures him Tyrion is most offended that he didn’t see it coming. She successfully tricks him and it galls. When Cat is cornered, though, and against his own reason, Tyrion steps forward to fight. After the battle he takes the time to observe their foe. Poor weapons and thin bodies. He’s always gathering information. Afterward, he rides armed and free, with Bronn beside him. He can convince anybody of anything, it seems. Cat takes him to the Vale and claims he’s her prisoner, but that’s not how it looks.
He sees himself as the brains of the Lannisters. Cersei has “low cunning” and Jaime is rash. For all of Tyrion’s smarts, though, justice will not let him shut his mouth to save himself pain. He antagonizes Lysa when he should lay low. His mouth — his wit and his ability to craft an argument — is his strength. He’s stronger when he takes his time rather than reacting in an instant. Planning and the nerve to carry the idea to fruition as he does on trial in the Vale, that’s Tyrion when he’s successful. Risk, gamble, and study.
“A Lannister always pays his debts.” That phrase is particularly poignant when Tyrion uses it as part of his telling of his wife, the maiden who ended up to be a whore Jaime had hired. It’s a great story, moving and character-revealing, and when Bronn says he would’ve made Tywin pay for what he did, Tyrion comes out with the motto, giving it a whole other meaning. Lovely writing.
He might be the greatest player of The Game. His observation skills, his poker face, his ability to think outside the box, his clarity in understanding the greatest threat. As Hand he’s perfectly situated to use his strengths.
So, which Enneagram number is he? Head Type, without a doubt. Everything is about deducement and plotting. Interestingly, we can’t use his build as a clue.
He’s no Six. Rules are more like guidelines to Tyrion. He has a great love of the sensate pleasures of life, suggesting a Seven. I’m going to say Five, though. It’s his attention to detail. He misses nothing and he notices everything. I also kind of love the notion that if he were a full-sized man, he’d be tall. It’s so perfectly Tyrion.