Before 2001, the standard scoring target for a table tennis game was 21 points.
The International Table Tennis Federation changed the system in 2001, reducing games from 21 points to 11. Under the modern format, a player or pair must win by two points, so a game can continue beyond 11 when the score reaches 10–10.
The older 21-point system also used a different service rotation. Service changed every five points, whereas modern games change service every two points, with alternating serves during deuce conditions.
This historical scoring fact is often confused with the current rules. Contemporary singles and doubles games use 11 points, and matches are usually best of an odd number of games. The 2001 change was intended to make matches more compact and increase the importance of each rally.