Is there a board game that's really good for just 2 players?

[Givemestrengthorgin]

I want to get a board game that me and DH can play together. Is there a board game out there that works really well with just 2 players? I know most of them say they can be played with 2 players but it's almost always not as good as it is with 3+ players. Any recommendations?

Backgammon

Lords of Waterdeep is my favourite board game ever, and it works brilliantly for 2 players. I prefer it with just 2.

Chess? Abalone, stratego.

We love playing Yahtzee. I am not great with strategy games like chess so this one is a nice mix of chance and strategy. We play it every day

Santorini

Ticket to Ride Nordic edition is designed for 2-3 and plays well with 2.

You can play the other version with 2 as well, but I've noticed that dh & I tend to get stuck completing our missions and ignoring what the other is doing, whereas on a smaller board there's more likelyhood that you'll be in competition with each other to reach your goals so more incentive to thwart!

DH and I like playing Pandemic. It's a cooperative game and it's easier to play with smaller numbers because there are fewer people to negotiate with. (The downside is that you have fewer 'special skills' available, but it's a fair trade.)

Carcassonne

Quadroplos
Smallworld has a board for 2/3 players
Quirkle

Scrabble?

Backgammon definitely

If you like escape rooms try the Unlock! Series of games - not technically a board game but they are very good.

Takenoko

Carcasonne

Blokus

Scrabble

7 Wonders Duel
Star Realms
Terraforming Mars

I like Othello

If you like Harry Potter, there is a fab board game called Harry Potter: Battle for Hogwarts. You don't need to have any real HP knowledge to play. It is a cooperative board game, so you play as a team against the game. Me and DP play most nights. We have the 2 expansions now, and love it just as much as we did when we bought it last Christmas. We've played it SO much!

Risk is good

Rummikub

Splendour
Spice Road
Biblios

Scrabble?

Bananagrams or Labyrinth are good with 2

Lost Cities (card version can only be played with 2, the board version goes up to 4)
Jaipur
Imhotep can be up to 4 but works fine with 2
Blokus - you can take 2 colours each

Chess
Backgammon
Othello
Scrabble
Yahtzee (not really a board game, but fun)
Stratego
Card games can work well

Ticket to Ride Nordic board