Modern table tennis games are normally played to 11 points. A player or pair must win by at least two clear points, and every rally awards a point, regardless of who served. Service normally changes every two points, but from 10–10 it alternates after every point. This article covers table tennis scoring rules, including how scoring works, what happens at deuce, service rotation, games within a match and doubles scoring. The same table tennis scoring rules apply in singles and doubles, whether at a local club or an international tournament.
How Does Table Tennis Scoring Work?
Every rally in table tennis produces exactly one point. The first player or pair to reach 11 points with a two-point lead wins the game.
This means a score of 11–8 ends the game, but 11–10 does not. If neither side has a two-point lead, the game continues beyond 11 points until one side leads by two.
The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) confirms that games are played to 11 and require a two-point margin when the score reaches 10–10.
| Score | Result |
| 11–7 | Game won |
| 11–10 | Continue playing |
| 12–10 | Game won |
| 14–12 | Game won |
Understanding how table tennis scoring works is straightforward once you recognise that the two-point margin only matters when both sides reach 10 points. For example, if Player A leads 10–7 and wins the next rally, the game ends 11–7. If Player B instead wins three rallies in a row to level at 10–10, play continues until one player leads by two.
What Happens at 10–10 in Table Tennis?
When both sides reach 10 points, the game continues. A player or pair must establish a two-point lead to win.
Common winning scores could therefore include:
- 12–10
- 13–11
- 15–13
For example, from 10–10, Player A wins a rally to lead 11–10. If Player B wins the next rally, the score returns to 11–11. Player A then needs two points in a row, such as 12–11 and then 13–11, to win the game.
Once the score reaches 10–10, service alternates after every point instead of every two points.
The score of 10–10 is commonly referred to as deuce, although the important rule is the two-point winning margin. Under table tennis scoring rules, there is no upper limit on how long a game can continue at deuce. The game simply proceeds until one side achieves the required two-point advantage. The same two-point principle applies in both singles and doubles.
How Often Does the Serve Change in Table Tennis?
Under normal scoring, each player serves for two consecutive points. Service then passes to the opponent. This continues regardless of who wins each rally.
Once the score reaches 10–10, each player serves once, and service changes after every point.
The same scoring principle applies to doubles, although doubles has an additional fixed order for serving and receiving.
A simple sequence for singles looks like this:
Player A serves twice → Player B serves twice → repeat
At deuce:
Player A serves once → Player B serves once → repeat
When it comes to how many serves in table tennis each player takes in a row, the answer is two before 10–10 and one from 10–10 onwards. At the start of each new game, the player or pair who served first in the previous game receives first.
How Many Games Are in a Table Tennis Match?
A game is normally played to 11 points. A match consists of several games, and competition rules determine how many games are required.
Common structures include:
- Best of five games
- Best of seven games
In a best-of-five match, the first player or pair to win three games takes the match. In a best-of-seven match, four games are required.
Formats can vary by tournament, from ITTF World Cup events to the TT Elite Series. For example, the 2026 ITTF World Cup used best-of-five matches in Stage 1 and best-of-seven matches in the knockout stage. The number of games in a match therefore depends on the competition.
Each game within a match follows the same principles: games are played to 11 points, a two-point margin is required from 10–10, and service changes every two points until 10–10, then after every point. The match format simply determines how many games are needed.
How Does Scoring Work in Table Tennis Doubles?
Doubles uses the same basic scoring system as singles:
- Games to 11
- Two-point winning margin
- Every rally scores a point
Service normally changes every two points. At 10–10, it changes after every point.
The major difference is not the points system, but the compulsory serving, receiving and hitting order. Partners must alternate returns during a rally. Service and receiving positions also rotate according to the doubles rules.
In doubles, each serve must land first in the server’s right half of the table and then in the receiver’s right half. After every two points, the previous receiver becomes the server, and the partner of the previous server becomes the receiver. In the deciding game of a match, the receiving pair also changes its receiving order when one pair first reaches 5 points.
| Scoring rule | Singles | Doubles |
| Points to win game | 11 | 11 |
| Winning margin | 2 | 2 |
| Normal service change | Every 2 points | Every 2 points |
| Service at 10–10 | Every point | Every point |
The points system itself stays the same; only the serving, receiving and hitting order differs.
Does Every Rally Count as a Point?
Yes. Modern table tennis uses rally-point scoring. A point can therefore be won by either the server or receiver. Players do not need to be serving to score.
A point can result from situations such as:
- An opponent failing to make a legal return
- The ball missing the table
- The ball bouncing twice
- A service fault
A let is different: the rally is replayed and no point is awarded.
Rally-point scoring differs from the systems traditionally used in some older racket sports, in which only the server could score.
Why Are Table Tennis Games Played to 11 Points?
Competitive table tennis previously used 21-point games. The ITTF changed the scoring system to 11 points in 2001.
Under the modern system:
- Games are shorter
- Service changes every two points instead of every five
- The two-point winning-margin principle remains important at 10–10
The change took effect in September 2001. At the same time, matches moved from best of three or five 21-point games to best of five or seven 11-point games, and these table tennis scoring rules still govern ITTF-sanctioned events today.
What Is the Expedite System in Table Tennis?
If a game is still unfinished after 10 minutes of play, the expedite system comes into force, unless at least 18 points have been scored. From then on, the players serve one point each in turn, and if the receiver makes 13 good returns in a rally, the receiver wins the point. The expedite system then stays in force for the rest of the match.
Common Table Tennis Scoring Questions
Can you win a table tennis game 11–10?
No, you can’t. A two-point lead is required.
Can a game go past 11 points?
Yes, it can. It continues until one side leads by two.
Does the serve change every two points?
Yes, except from 10–10 onwards, when it changes every point.
Do singles and doubles use different point systems?
No, they don’t. Both normally use games to 11 with a two-point winning margin.
Who serves first in table tennis?
The choice is decided by lot, usually a coin toss. The winner chooses whether to serve first, receive first or start at a particular end.
Do players change ends during a match?
Yes. Players change ends after each game, and in the deciding game of a match they also change ends when one side first reaches 5 points.
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