I completely agree about E&T. While it works with 3 or 4 players, it really shines with just 2.

I wave E&T Card Game at my wife, and she always cracks ... and lets me play any new game I have bought!!!
Never Fails!!!

E&T Card Game is my wife's new favorite.

I have not played it with more than 2, so I do not have a judgment on whether it is best with 2. I have a feeling it is.

If someone does think it is best with 2, add it to the list.

I find the conflicts are fewer and far between when there's only two players. Still, I find T&E enjoyable as a two-player game. I just believe that it really shines with a full four.

Chris

Great with 2 players and 2 sets each - new life breathed into this much-played game. A number of good variants for 2. We like the ones that complicate this simple game as little as possible, play somewhat like a 4 player game, and win by the lowest scoring of a player's 2 routes.

I think with 3 it's more challenging than with 2. You still don't get to use the double routes twice, and the board gets more crowded.

Why 2 sets?
Really enjoy just playing 2 players! Actually play a lot of 2 player games on the Days of Wonder website.

Um, after playing hundreds of times plain vanilla a little variety is in order ?

How: 2 colors for each player, distinct destination tickets for each color (announce which color to draw for before drawing new destinations), 8 card hand, play for either single color on your turn (from the 8 card hand), win with your lower score (the 'contender'). Nothing else changes. But you could allow for a final move for each color on the 'final turn', in any order (this works). Using card stands for destination tickets also helps here (say, Memoir '44 stands) - keep these tickets near the pile of trains for each color.

A bit more brain burn than plain vanilla, which doesn't have much (which is why it was easy to play so often, and so fast after long workdays).

I agree, this game is really cool with just 2. The 3rd dummy player works just fine, creating just the right tension needed in competing for the tiles

Yep, was going to add this to the list...fantastic as a two player game.

I was with you until you said you preferred the original with more players. I primarily just play the original, but pretty much refuse to play it with more than 2 players, unless I'm just playing in order to introduce it to new people. If I'm playing against someone who has played a lot, and using a few of the expansions, then this really only works, in my opinion, as a head-to-head match up, otherwise you can't control and predict what's going to happen with too many tiles being placed between each of your turns.

Interesting. I don't enjoy this game with only two players. It seems that there's too much open space to work with.

Chris

Don't really like it with 2. The chain scoring strategy is basically lost because if you don't lead a chain, your sole opponent automatically will. Also there's no element of deterring attacks as in a multi-player game.

Best with 4 or 3, I think.

I've played this game one time with four players and I can't see how it couldn't be better with just two. With four, there are three people who will be busy wackin' your guys back to the town and keeping you from scoring. On top of that, there are two additional chances that someone will flip a desperado tile and cause even more havoc. I'm sure with two, there is at least some modicum of strategy. With four, there was zero. All tactics.

This is definitely better with 2, but I feel like it gets a bit clunky, playing two different colors. I much prefer Travel Blokus, because it's just two colors, and it's a much tighter, less forgiving game.

I enjoy Caylus with 2 players although it is a lot easier to play than with 5 players. If you want some cut-throaght action you'ld better play with at least 4.