How many points are needed to win a standard table tennis game?

A standard table tennis game is won by the first player or pair to reach 11 points, provided they lead by at least two points.

The modern 11-point system was introduced internationally in 2001, replacing the former 21-point system. The shorter games were intended to make matches more dynamic and easier to schedule and broadcast.

At 10–10, play continues until one side leads by two points. Thus, a game can finish 11–9, but it cannot finish 11–10. A score such as 12–10 or 15–13 is possible when the players remain level after reaching 10.

Service changes also became more frequent under the 11-point system: service switches every two points, except during deuce, when it switches after every point. Matches are normally best of an odd number of games.