1. Front-and-back attacking mode formation.
2. Back-to-back defending mode formation.
Playing badminton doubles requires teamwork and flawless coordination for success. Both players must be in sync and know each other's moves. This is only achieved after some time playing together. But this does not necessarily mean you have to do some guesswork in the early stages to establish coordination with your partner, especially if you play with different partners most of the time, thereby preventing you from getting to know a partner's playing style and adjusting to it.
It pays to know the basics.
1. When a partner is serving low, the other partner is usually behind and prepares himself/herself for an attack, either by smashing or dropping the return. This puts you in a front-and-back formation (see picture 1 above). In other words, the server takes care of all shots at the net while the one behind takes care of the shots at the back. If the return to the serve is a clear, the partner at the back should either smash or drop to maintain the attacking mode. This way the opponents will be forced to lift the shuttle cock, unless they answer with net shots, that will again provide opportunity for the back player to attack.
2. If the serve is high, the server should immediately move to his/her side of the court after the serve, while the other partner should immediately position himself/herself to the other side so that the two players will be on a side-to-side formation or a split (see picture 2 above). This prepares them for any possible attacking shots, such as a smash. It is easier to defend against a smash in a side-to-side formation, and usually the partner whose forehand side is closer to the direction of the birdie or shuttle cock will be the one to return the smash.
So, let me summarize the above rules: (1) when a partner serves low the partner assumes a front-and-back formation with the server staying in front to block all shots to the net while the other partner who is behind staying at the back to deal with all the shots there, preferably through a smash or drop; (2) when a partner serves high the partners assume a side-to-side formation by splitting the court into two in preparation for an attack.
3. All throughout the game after the serve, the rule on assuming a front-and-back formation (attacking mode) whenever a partner smashes or drops or assuming a side-to-side formation (defensive mode) whenever a partner clears or lifts should generally be observed.
