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).