• a squash court
• two squash rackets
• two people
• none-marking shoes
• a squash ball

The diagram below illustrates the layout of the squash court. Each opponent stands in one half of the court (A or B). The game starts with the serve. Here the serving player must keep one foot in the service box within his half of the court. He must then hit the ball above the red line that is about half way up (the service line), and, if allowed to drop before his opponent returns it, lands in his opponents back quarter of the court.

The player on the receiving side of the court must return the ball anywhere to the front wall above the lowest red line ('the Tin'). The ball does not have to bounce before being returned, but can't bounce more than once. On the return, the ball can hit any of the walls, but must hit the front wall at least once.

The players keep alternating shots that can hit any wall, but hit the front wall at least once. The ralley ends if the ball:

1. is hit above any of the high red lines ('out lines')
2. is allowed to bounce more than once before return
3. is hit on or below the Tin on the Front wall
4. does not hit the front wall when returned

Only the server can earn a point.

If the server wins a rally, he/she gets a point and continues to serve alternating serving boxes after each rally.

If the server loses the rally, he/she gives serve to the opponent.

The first person to score 9 points wins the game. The first person to win 3 games wins the match.

If a situation is reached where the players have 8 points each for the first time, the receiver chooses, before the next service, to continue the game to 9 points (known as 'Set one'), to 10 points ('Set Two'), or to a score where one player is two clear points ahead of the other.