@Octopus:
I think two players is the best for the following reason. The Allies must have complete coordination to win. The Germans and Japanese can act individually and still be quite competitive, but if the Allies are not in agreement on a single strategy, they are lost.
To emphasize the matter further, try not having any table talk to plan strategies. The Allies would most likely lose.
Five players is fun for a friendly game to get people involved, but once it becomes serious, 1 on 1 is best for game play.
That was exactly what I was going to say. I play for fun, and love a challenge, but enjoy 5 players most. This clearly puts the Axis at an advantage. Coordination is definitely the Allies’ strength, so when there are only two players, the Axis have a harder time.