Doubles Play (ITTF Law 2.13)

Doubles play has additional specific rules beyond singles:

**Court Division:**
- Each court is divided by a 3mm white center line
- Line runs parallel to sidelines
- Divides court into two equal half courts

**Service Order:**
1. Server must serve from right half court to receiver's right half court
2. Service must cross from server's right to receiver's right diagonally
3. Service order is established at start of game
4. After each 2 points, receiver becomes server and partner of previous server becomes receiver
5. At 10-10, service alternates every point

**Service Order Example:**
- Game starts: A serves to X
- After 2 points: X serves to B
- After 2 points: B serves to A
- After 2 points: A serves to X (cycle repeats)

**Striking Sequence:**
- After service, players must alternate hitting the ball
- In pair A/B vs pair X/Y:
- If A serves to X
- X must return to A or B
- If X returns to B, then B must hit to X or Y
- Then partner Y must hit back to A or B
- Sequence continues alternating

**Order of Play:**
- Pair who has right to serve first in any game chooses which player serves first
- Receiving pair chooses which player receives first
- In subsequent games, serving pair reverses order
- In deciding game, receiving pair changes receiver when either pair reaches 5 points

**Common Faults in Doubles:**
- Wrong player strikes ball (out of sequence)
- Ball doesn't bounce in correct half court on service
- Partners block each other (obstruction)
- Same player strikes ball twice in succession

**Mixed Doubles:**
- Same rules apply as regular doubles
- Typically one male and one female per team
- Service and striking sequence remain the same

**Tactical Considerations:**
- Communication between partners essential
- Court coverage and positioning critical
- Service strategy more complex than singles
- Understanding partner's strengths and weaknesses

Doubles requires coordination, communication, and precise understanding of rules.