How many games are in a badminton match?
B · Beginner · How do you score and win? · 3 of 8Checked 13 October 2026
A badminton match is the best of three games: the first side to win two games wins the match. There are no draws. The winner of a game serves first in the next, and the players change ends after each game.
How it works
- Best of three games, unless otherwise arranged under BWF statutes.
- Win two games and the match is over; a third game is played only at one game each.
- The side that won the last game serves first in the next.
- Ends change after the first game and after the second if there is a third. They change once more during the third.
- A player can also lose a match by disqualification, or win when an opponent retires.
Tricky cases
Is a badminton game called a set?
No. Many people say "set", but the Laws call it a game.
Can a badminton match be drawn?
No. A third game decides it at one game each.
Why the rule exists
Best of three gives a player who starts badly a chance to recover, without making matches too long.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| All badminton under the BWF Laws | Best of three | L7.1 |
| Team events and leagues | How individual matches add up to a team result is set by the competition | Not covered |
From the rule book
BWF Laws of Badminton, Laws 7.1, 7.6 and 8.1, version 5.0, in force from 26 April 2025. Checked 13 October 2026. Official document: BWF Laws of Badminton (PDF).