How to adapt to the enemy's playstyle in CS:GO
A guide on how to adapt to the enemy team's play style and take advantage of how they play.
A guide on how to adapt to the enemy team's play style and take advantage of how they play.
What should I do if the counter-terrorists are playing extremly aggressive?
Terrorists might run into some situations where counter-terrorists are extremely aggressive. This could simply result in situations where rounds are over in seconds and the terrorists are left hopeless. However, instead of letting the counter-terrorists have the advantage you can flip the table and make them have the disadvantage. If you know that the counter-terrorists have a tendency to rush up middle or a particular spot, instead of trying to challenge them and risk losing the duel, just hold the angle. If you know that the counter-terrorist have a tendency to rush you just hold a passive angle and let the them come to you. It's also a good idea to have another terrorist nearby so that if you lose the duel your teammate can kill the counter-terrorist so that you exchange one for one. If you keep punishing the counter-terrorists for playing aggressive they will probably stop playing aggressive since they are giving up free kills.
What should I do if the counter-terrorists are playing extremly passive?
However, in some situations terrorists might run into some situations where counter-terrorists might be extremely passive. In these cases counter-terrorists might be just playing sites and giving up a lot of map control. You can take advantage of this by taking a lot of map control. In most Counter-Strike: Global Offensive maps taking middle control is a strong advantage. If the counter-terrorists are giving you middle control take it and take advantage of the counter-terrorists playstyles. Taking control of middle on a map like Cache gives you a number of attack options. You can go from middle to vents, middle to counter-terrorist connector, and middle to catwalk. Instead of having to attack a site directly from one direction this gives you the option to attack a site from different angles and positions.
What should I do if the counter-terrorists are peeking and are playing passive on sites?
If the counter-terrorists are playing the sites passively and aren't peeking this can cause some issues for terrorists trying to attack the sites whether it be site A or B. If the counter-terrorists aren't peeking you can use molotovs to flush the counter-terrorist out and force him to peek or die in the flames. Another option is to flash the site and peek. If done correctly, when you peek the counter-terrorist should be blind. Sometimes you might know if an area of a map is clear or not. This simple tip can give you that information and bait the counter-terrorists to expose their locations. If you're playing de_dust2 and you're currently at a long and a counter-terrorist is watching long you can simply shoulder peek to bait out the counter-terrorist. Shoulder peeking is when you peek only part of your body (shoulder) so that the counter-terrorist shoots. If the awper shoots after you shoulder peak immediately peak out and attempt to kill the awper as he's reloading.
What should I do if the terrorists are attacking a site with five people and we only have two counter-terrorists holding the site?
One issue that counter-terrorists might run into is that terrorists are playing sites is that terrorists are extremely aggressive. This situation is extremely common and most of the time Counter-Strike: Global Offensive players will experience this problem. How would you deal with this situation? If you see that the terrorists are attacking a certain site it's basically a two versus five. Some players make the mistake of wide peeking the enemy team. However, in this situation it's pretty common for the counter-terrorists to peek out, get one kill and get exchanged one for one.
Even though you got the kill you gave the terrorists the site and the one for one exchange. In Counter-Strike: Global Offensive a one for one kill exchange will almost always give the advantage to the terrorists. This occurs in Counter-Strike, because the one for one exchange causes the counter-terrorists defense to be stretched and weakened. Instead of wide peeking and trying to attack the terrorists you can throw a molotov or smoke to delay the push. After throwing the molotov or smoke you should hold a tight angle until your team can rotate. These simple actions could lead to better site holds and overall benefit your team more than wide peeking and challenging the terrorists directly.
What should I do if the awper I'm against has a quicker reaction time and is more talented than I am?
Sometimes, we run into situations where the awper we're facing is more talented than us. Whether this means that he can flick faster than you or his reaction time is faster, this can cause some issues and frustrate players. In order to combat this there are a variety of things you can do. One basic thing you can do is simply ask your teammates to throw a popflash. After your teammates throw a popflash the enemy should be blind and you should have the advantage when you peek. If you're a counter-terrorist trying to hold a site instead of trying to push and get kills just hold angles. In most situations if you're holding an angle and an awper peeks you should have the advantage nine times out of ten.
I hope you can use this guide and what you know to improve at the game and win some matches. If you have anything you would like me to cover send a tweet to @MichaelCSGO.