A two-stroke internal combustion engine comprises a cylinder; and a piston movably mounted within the cylinder. The cylinder has formed therein an exhaust port and a first pair of transfer ports disposed closer to the exhaust port than a second pair of transfer ports that are disposed further away from the exhaust port, each of the first and second pairs of transfer ports directing intake charge inwardly toward the transverse cylinder axis and generally away for the exhaust port, the charge from the first and second pairs of transfer ports meeting in a compact transfer port convergence zone located between the cylinder axis and a front wall of the cylinder opposite the exhaust port. The first pair of transfer ports are angled relative to each other at a first angle of about 70.degree. to about 85.degree. and the second pair of transfer ports are angled relative to each other at a second angle of about 120.degree. to about 150.degree.