**In badminton, how many points are played to in a standard game?**
Verified**Explanation:**
In badminton, a standard game is played to 21 points. This scoring system has been officially adopted by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and is used in all professional tournaments, including the Olympics, World Championships, and other international competitions.
To win a game, a player or pair must reach 21 points first, but there's an important catch - they must win by at least a 2-point margin. This means if the score reaches 20-20, the game continues until one side achieves a 2-point lead. However, if the score reaches 29-29, the next point wins the game, making 30 the maximum possible score in any single game.
The current 21-point system replaced the older 15-point system in 2006. This change was made to make badminton matches more exciting for television audiences and to ensure more predictable match durations. Under the old system, only the serving side could score points, but the modern system allows both sides to score regardless of who is serving, making matches faster-paced and more dynamic.
A complete badminton match consists of the best of three games, meaning the first player or pair to win two games wins the match. Each game follows the same 21-point format, ensuring consistency throughout the match. This format applies to all five disciplines of badminton: men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles.
