Is it better to pray beyachid in mincha ketana than with minyan in mincha guedola?, according to masechet berachot, that tefilot nishmain bebeth knesseth, is it better to pray mincha guedola beyachid in beth knesset than mincha ketana in any other place?
Answer:
Although your quotation of the Gemara is accurate, it remains better to daven with a Minyan than to Daven in a shul or Mincha Ketana.
Davening in a shul is a virtue, as is Mincha Ketana. Although a minyan is also a virtue, it is a virtue that comes close to a full obligation, and this is clear from many Poskim who discuss questions of davening with a minyan under extenuating circumstances (such as the rulings of the Shulchan Aruch on the distance a person has to go) – questions that are not discussed concerning davening in a shul or Minchan Ketana.
In fact, the Iggros Moshe treats davening with a minyan as an actual obligation, and not a virtue alone.
Best wishes.
