Dice Table Tennis Game: Rules, Serves and Odds
Dice table tennis is a fast match for two players with no table, no net and no lost balls. Every roll of two dice is one rally: the server is a little more likely to win it, an ace or a fault can happen on the serve, and the serve changes every two points, just like in the real game. Games go to 11, and the first player to win three games takes the match. You need two dice and a pencil, and a match takes about fifteen minutes. Below are the rules and the exact odds.
What you need
- Two six-sided dice, or a dice roller set to two dice.
- A score sheet with a row for each game.
- A coin flip to decide who serves first.
Who serves first?
Toss a coin flip. The winner serves first in games 1, 3 and 5, and the other player serves first in games 2 and 4. As the odds below show, serving first does not give any edge at all in this game, so the coin flip only settles who starts.
How to play
- The server rolls both dice, adds them up and checks the chart below. Each roll is one point.
- Changing the serve: each player serves two points in a row, then the serve passes to the other player.
- Winning a game: the first player to 11 points wins the game, but they must lead by 2. At 10 to 10, called deuce, the serve changes after every point until one player leads by 2.
- Winning the match: the first player to win three games wins the match.
- After each game, players swap ends of the table, or just swap seats for fun.
These are the real scoring rules of table tennis: games to 11, two serves each, and one serve each from 10 to 10. In a real match, spin, speed and placement decide the rally, so the dice chart is only a simple stand-in, and this is a home game, not an official one.
The dice chart and the chance of each rally
In the table, “Roll” is the total of the two dice, “What happens” is the result of the point, and “Chance” is the exact probability out of the 36 ways two dice can land.
| Roll | What happens | Chance |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Fault: the serve misses, point to the receiver | 1 in 36 |
| 3, 4, 5 or 6 | The receiver wins the rally | 14 in 36 |
| 7, 8, 9, 10 or 11 | The server wins the rally | 20 in 36 |
| 12 | Ace: point to the server | 1 in 36 |
The server wins 21 points in 36, about 58%, because the chart gives the server the middle total 7, the most common roll, as explained in our guide to dice probability. The receiver wins the other 15 in 36. A fault and an ace each come only 1 time in 36.
Is serving first an advantage?
No, and this is the surprise of the game. Even though the server wins most points, each player serves exactly the same number of points until 10 to 10, and after that the serve swaps on every point. Worked out exactly, the player who serves first wins exactly 50% of all games. A game lasts about 18.9 points on average, and about 18% of games reach deuce at 10 to 10.
How long is a match?
In the next table, “Match result” is the final score in games, and “Chance” is the exact probability. Because every game is a fair 50-50, these numbers come straight from counting the ways a best-of-five match can go.
| Match result | Chance |
|---|---|
| 3 games to 0 | 25% |
| 3 games to 1 | 37.5% |
| 3 games to 2 | 37.5% |
A clean sweep happens in a quarter of matches, and a full five games in more than a third. These numbers are worked out exactly from the rules, not simulated.
Tips
- Say the score before every serve, server first, as players do in real matches: “5 serving 3”.
- Use one coloured pen for each player to keep track of who serves next.
- For a quick game, play one game to 11. For a long final, play best of seven games.
- Run a class tournament and draw the first round with a random name picker.
Classroom ideas
- Fractions and percent: pupils turn 21 in 36 into a fraction in lowest terms, 7 in 12, and then into a percent.
- Logic: why does serving first not help? Count the serves each player has had at 2, 4, 6 and 8 points.
- Data: record the scores of many games and see how many reached deuce.
- Counting: list all the ways a best-of-five match can end 3 to 2.
Variations
- Old scoring: play games to 21 with five serves each, as table tennis did before 2001.
- Doubles: two teams of two, and team-mates take turns rolling.
- Edge ball: a double 1 or double 6 lets the receiver win the point with a lucky edge.
- Handicap: a younger player starts each game with 3 points.
If you like one-on-one duels with dice, try dice fencing next, or step onto the mat with dice wrestling.
FAQ
How do you play table tennis with dice?
The server rolls two dice for each point: 7 to 11 wins the rally, 12 is an ace, 3 to 6 is a point to the receiver and 2 is a fault. Serve twice each, play games to 11 with a lead of 2, and win three games.
Does the server have an advantage?
On each point, yes: the server wins about 58% of points. Over a whole game, no: serving first wins exactly 50% of games.
What happens at 10 to 10?
That is deuce. The serve changes after every point, and the game goes on until one player leads by 2.
How long is a game?
About 18.9 points on average. About 18% of games reach deuce.
How many games are in a match?
Best of five: the first player to win three games wins. Best of seven is used for big finals.
When did table tennis change to 11 points?
Games went from 21 points to 11 points in 2001.