In table tennis doubles, where must a legal serve land first?

In table tennis doubles, a legal serve must first land in the server’s right half-court.

The ball must then travel diagonally across the net and land in the receiver’s corresponding right half-court. The center line is treated as part of the right half-court for this service purpose. This diagonal requirement distinguishes doubles service from singles service, which may land anywhere on the receiver’s side.

After the serve, players must alternate striking the ball: one member of a pair returns, then the partner returns the next ball. The prescribed order creates a continuously rotating sequence rather than allowing either teammate to play every shot.

A common error is to think that the service must land only on the center line. It does not. The correct target is the entire diagonal right half-court, including the center line.