Counterstrike Tactics and Strategies

Some players wonder why they can never hit that 1 to 1 kill ratio whenever they play Counterstrike. Some blame it on their mice, while others blame their ping times, video card, CPU, RAM, all and everything under the sun. What many don't usually realize is that what they lack are a set of basic, and yes we mean basic, skills that competent or experienced Counterstrike players normally have or have learnt through sufficient exposure to the game. Apart from being able to snipe from ungodly distances here are some pointers that players who are in serious need to upgrade their skills to impress their neighbours next door could pick up (as well as female players who intend to impress the guys. :). [Ed : OK that wasn't so nice]

I'll start off this page with tips that inexperienced players could adopt so that they can improve their Counterstrike game. I'll be following up on the next page with some suggestions on activities that players could embark on in-game to get more fun out of the Counterstrike engine.

Combat Tips

1. Learn to use your switch to previous gun key, by default is 'Q'. When you've gotten used to it, switching to your pistol with a flick of the finger just as your one-on-one combat has emptied your and your opponent's primary weapon would make the difference.
2. If you've played other first person shooters, remember that halflife/CS is plagued by the reality of reloading. In Quake 3, you can empty ammo like nobody's business. In CS, you run out of ammo, you reload and while you do, you are terribly vulnerable. If possible, learn how to 'spray' (tap your mouse button when your opponent is in your crosshair) instead of pumping out lead and HOPING it hits.
3. Try practise sessions by yourself, against a stationary target, a crate or something. Keep pumping until you can keep your shots into a minimal area (you'll eventually learn to offset as much recoil as possible). Once you achieved this, attempt to move and jump around while concentrating your shots. Once you've perfected this, other players, especially new comers who stand and fire at you while you dodge will be close to a sitting duck. As for dodging opponents, get a friend to practise with you, you can't do it alone.
4. NEVER reload while charging. It's quite common sense, you become vulnerable.
5. Charging while your opponent (best if only one in sight) backs off. He's probably low on health, reloading or even better, out of ammo. It is likely he will empty shots to deter you and this is more likely he will have to reload. Conserve your ammo when you chase and well, you'll get the advantage because the last thing he'll expect you to do is go after him.
6. NEVER throw flash bang grenades at your comrades. You won't die, but killing your allies isn't wise either.
7. Always have someone to cover you back and don't stick too close or too far.
   Stick too close and you'll die by the same bullets of a mad raging opponent.
   Stick too far and you wouldn't really be covering each other's back.
8. When you are left with one or two opponents, stick with your comrades. If you are all unfortunately all over the map, one of you is likely to die. But don't despair, his death or yours will be a blessing in disguise if you keep track of your radar. When you see a dot disappear, you know roughly where your opponents are. Most people overlook the use of the radar.
9. The most efficient cheap gun is the MP5 Navy, it's fairly accurate, good ammo supply and don't cost too much. Hence, it's the balance of the guns. Go for this for one or two rounds instead of just a pistol, just so that you can get your favourite super expensive gun. You may need to spend more rounds, but your chances of survival and even kills are higher than a lousy pistol. In fact, any cheap gun will do, try never to use only a pistol for a round unless you really can't afford it, or you are one lucky and/or (usually and) accurate gunman.
10. When firing deterring shots (eg to get a sniper back into hiding) use pistol shots, conserve your primary ammo for better stuff. These kind of shots are not meant to hit, and even if they do, it's highly unlikely you will do much damage. The sounds of gunshots by a sniper's walls are enough to push him back a moment or so.
11. Breakable components with a metal sound can usually be broken with a grenade, so if you intend to take a path that has this in your way, bring a cheap smoke grenade to throw at the breakable, HEs should be conserved, and flash bangs aren't good for your health.
12. Wear Kevlar WITH helmet. As much as possible. A deflected headshot is invaluable, especially if it were real life.
13. Campers exist and they will never go away. Personally I hate them, but I can't stop them. So it's always best to look by that wall you least expect they would hide behind.
14. Unfortunately, there are two sides to many intersections, eg when you exit a corridor. In such a case, it would be good to practise a 270 degree swivel, it starts with a 90 degree turn while jumping out of that entrance. When you notice you enemy's not there, and that should take you no more than a split second, you continue your mouse movement in the same direction (since your got some 'momentum', opposing direction might be difficult unless you are extremely flexible) until you end up facing the other direction. You are unlikely to die facing one opponent without getting a shot when he is facing your back when you enter. This is because:
    • You were jumping when entering the open area.
    • The time he takes to adjust to your entrance and to his getting his crosshair on your moving body is about the same time it takes for you to look both sides
15. Grenades. Never underestimate the power of grenades. HE serves as a good offense when you know an opponent is around, and as a goo deterrent too. Flash is great if thrown together with a comrade's. Throwing one is not enough for your life is at stake if it is a dud. It is unlikely both yours and your comrade's fails together. Smoke is good to keep your enemy's at bay, or as a distraction.
16. Buy secondary ammo, it doesn't cost much, but if you're left in a battle with just pistol bullets, having more ammo could just mean the difference. More so when you use secondary ammo for stuff like breaking windows, nothing sucks more than dying because you don't even have pistol bullets to shoot with.
17. Can't afford full kevlar armor? At least get the vest, as with secondary ammo, that vest could mean the difference between your survival and your bloody end.
18. If you like to use the Paras, and you enter combat, keep your gun pointed to your opponent's feet. The insane recoil will bring the bullets up to the chest and head. You can't hope to master the Paras by pumping its ammo, because it's a gun designed for holding the enemies at bay and all shots past the first (assuming you hold down your mouse button) do not hit close to the crosshair center, let alone on the center.
19. Keep your guns pointed to the midsection of your opponents. Most guns give enough recoil to hit the midsection, to the chest and increases your chances for a headshot. This is applicable to middle range combat. For close range, keep the gun at chest level.
20. Silencers are brilliant for teamwork, like Paras is for securing an area. Silencers still give out noise but the targets find it difficult to discern where it's coming from just from the sound. Best used when you backstab when your comrade's distract.
21. Secure the immediate area before switching guns. Switching guns before securing the area usually leads to immediate death.
22. Common sense tells you corridors and shotguns go together. Your combat is close, there's little room for your opponent to run and shotguns deal a lot of damage when the fragments are concentrated (eg shot at close range).