Table tennis looks simple — two players, a small ball, a table — but the speed of the rallies hides a precise set of rules. The modern game is played to 11 points, with a two-point margin, and matches are usually best of five or seven games. This guide covers the rules that matter when you watch or play.

How scoring works: games to 11

A game is won by the first player to reach 11 points, provided they lead by at least two points. If the score reaches 10–10, the game is not over: play continues until one player leads by two, so games can finish 12–10, 14–12, or longer.

A match is a contest of games, not points. Most matches are best of five games (first to three) or best of seven (first to four). Winning one game by a big margin counts exactly the same as winning it narrowly, which is why players sometimes relax with a big lead and then regret it.

Serving: two serves each, then switch

Players take turns serving, and each player serves twice in a row before the serve passes to the other player. The exception is deuce: once the score reaches 10–10, the serve alternates after every single point until the game is won.

A legal serve has several requirements. The ball must rest on the open palm of the server's hand, be tossed at least 16 centimetres into the air, and be struck as it falls. It must bounce once on the server's side of the table and then once on the receiver's side. Hiding the ball from the receiver during the serve is not allowed.

If the served ball clips the net but still lands correctly on the receiver's side, it is a let: the serve is replayed and nobody scores. If the serve hits the net and fails to land on the receiver's side, it is a fault and the receiver scores a point.

What wins and loses a point

A player wins a point when the opponent fails to return the ball legally. That covers the obvious cases — the ball goes into the net, misses the table, or is hit twice — but also the less obvious ones: touching the table with the free hand, moving the table during a rally, or touching the net with the body or racket.

The edges count. A ball that clips the side edge of the table top and lands is in play, which produces some of the most argued-over points in the sport. A ball that hits the side of the table below the top edge is out.

Deuce, and why it changes the rhythm

Deuce changes more than the score: it changes who serves. At 10–10, the two-serve rotation stops and players alternate one serve each. This makes the end of a close game a pure test of nerve, because neither player can build a run of serves, and every point swings the advantage. It is also why long deuce games are common at every level — two evenly matched players can trade points for a long time before someone finally wins two in a row.

Doubles: extra rules worth knowing

Doubles table tennis adds two rules. First, the serve must go diagonally: from the server's right-hand half of the table to the receiver's right-hand half. A serve that goes straight down the line is a fault. Second, partners must take turns hitting the ball. After one partner plays a shot, the other partner must play the next one; two consecutive hits by the same player lose the point. Teams also alternate the serve between partners: each player serves two points in turn, and the receiving pair swaps who receives.

Equipment basics

The table is 2.74 metres long and 1.525 metres wide, with a net 15.25 centimetres high stretched across the middle. The ball is 40 millimetres in diameter and made of plastic. Rackets have no standard size or shape, but both sides of the blade must be covered, one side red and the other black, so the opponent can see which rubber is being used.

Questions, answered

How many points is a game? Eleven, with a two-point margin. At 10–10, play continues until someone leads by two.

How often does the serve change? Every two points, except at deuce, when it changes after every point.

Does the ball have to bounce on my side first when I serve? Yes. A legal serve bounces once on the server's side and once on the receiver's side.

What is a let? A serve that clips the net but still lands correctly is replayed with no point scored.

Can I play with any racket? Almost. The blade can be any size, but the two rubbers must be different colours, one red and one black.

What to watch next

Watch a match and count the serves: two each, then switch, then one each at deuce. Once that rhythm clicks, the rest of the game opens up. Head to the live scores section to see which table tennis matches are on today, and check the table tennis page for fixtures and results.