Okay, so there isn't actually a science to clutching. Each clutch scenario is unique, but there are some general concepts you should follow when out on the battlefield. A clutch situation in CS:GO is when there is one player alive on a team and there's either one or more alive on the other team. When faced with a winnable clutch situation, the main thing you should do is stay calm and to not panic. But what defines a winnable clutch situation?

Assessing a clutch situation

When left in a 1vX situation, the first question you ask yourself is if the clutch is realistically possible or not. This is affected by numerous variables - the time left in the round (and the situation of the round) your health, the enemies' health and your team's economy. Notice I didn't mention your individual economy - whilst it's important to keep yourself equipped each round, to work effectively in a team you should remember that your money is your team's money. But that's a whole different article; for now let's focus on clutching.

There's only 20 seconds left? Are you far away from where the bomb is dropped? Has the bomb been planted for 15 seconds and you don't have a defuse kit? These are all possible factors when faced with a clutch situation. Now whilst it may not seem like it, 60 seconds is a large amount of time in Counter-Strike. Time left should not be too much of an issue in match-making with 2 minute timers and 45 second bomb timers. Be realistic though; for example, you're unlikely to win a 1v3 with 25 seconds left, and no bomb control. Take your time, and don't panic. Think methodically - where did my teammates die? What weapons did the enemy have? Are the enemies tagged [hurt]? This information could be crucial to winning a clutch, especially if your enemy is silly enough to not change position. Playing actively is often the best way to play Counter-Strike, so always try to keep this information in your mind and work with it. Learning approximate rotate times between bombsites beforehand can also be useful. Finally, take note that on both CT and T-side, having bomb control is important - the bomb is the main objective!

If you have a short amount of time left, or you're facing three or more enemies, consider saving your weapons for the next round. On CT-side, you won't be penalized for surviving the round and will still be given money for the next round. The CT economy is also much more fragile as most things are more expensive, so saving every dollar you can is useful. If you're the last remaining Terrorist and are in a tough clutch moment, sometimes getting a bomb plant and a kill to slightly damage the Counter Terrorist economy can be good, so don't feel down if you don't win every clutch. Remember that if you are alive when the timer reaches zero, you will get no money for the next round - so if you die after the timer you'll be in a really bad place. Saving is also obviously favourable when you're at low HP, as you're unlikely to win multiple aim duels unless you're getting instant headshots.

Assessing all of these factors may seem daunting when you're new, but over time you'll build experience through failures and successes. You will soon learn naturally when and when not to attempt a clutch, but the above information is a good heads up when you're wanting to improve your clutch game from a sloppy deathmatch into a precise, calculated series of moves.

Attempting a clutch situation

Each clutch is different, but once you've made that decision to commit there are some simple ideas you should follow. The main way to win a clutch is to turn a 1v3, for example, into 3 1v1s. By attacking one enemy at a time, you're greatly increasing your chances of succeeding. You're looking to win the round for your team however you can, it doesn't and shouldn't need to be flashy. One good example of this is a 1v4 clutch by device from TSM, against team Virtus.Pro:

As you can see, despite being against four enemies, he faced each one individually and secured the round for his team. This clip also shows another important concept: playing time. This idea is generally more relevant to the Terrorists, however it can be applicable to Counter-Terrorists as I will explain. Playing time is a vital concept whenever you have an advantage over your enemy. For example, in the video above, the Terrorist has the bomb planted, and can defend it from his position. He doesn't need to peek and potentially give away the round until he can hear the Counter-Terrorist defusing. Whilst it may be very, very tempting to peek and get the kill, you should show discipline during a clutch and play the time of the bomb - remember, the longer the bomb ticks, the less likely it is the Counter-Terrorist will have time to defuse, and the more likely it is you'll win the round. This theory is also applicable on the Counter-Terrorist side. If you know where the bomb is, you can wait for the Terrorist to plant the bomb before you engage him. The Terrorist may fake plant (by beginning to plant the bomb before cancelling, attempting to bait you out with the sound effect), however it is safer to let the Terrorist commit to the plant if he knows your location. If he doesn't, try to catch him with his back turned. This also introduces another key element to clutching - the element of suprise.

Having the suprise factor on your enemies is a big advantage. It can guarentee 'free' kills, as well as forcing the individual 1v1s in order to secure the clutch. You can also suprise your enemy by playing unpredictably - perhaps waiting in an unorthodox position or pushing through the edge of a smoke. You should keep moving even when you're in a post-bombplant situation; don't let your enemies close in on you. In the end, you should force a situation, but don't get so overly aggressive that you die. Maintaining trigger discipline alongside this is also important - any grenades you throw, any shots you make, any steps you take could give a sound cue to the enemy team regarding your location. Here's a good example that shows both principles outlined above - GeT_RiGhT's 1v3 Clutch vs. EnVyUs, which demonstrates turning a 1v3 into 3 1v1s, AND the suprise factor, using a smoke grenade to give a fake tell on his location:

Here's a slightly extreme example of trigger discipline and a surpise factor (by coming in on the flank) while clutching - PashaBicep's 'Sneaky Beaky' 1v3 clutch vs. Copenhagen Wolves:

So while Pasha's clutch is a little ridiculous in the fact that his enemy was so unobservant, and the situation was a little bizarre, the principle is there. Don't just shoot everything you see. Guarantee your kills. Now, this doesn't mean you should become ridiculously passive and try to be sneaky all the time. But play patiently, and stay calm - a large part of clutching is in you and your enemy's mentality. Use your utility and whatever you have at your disposal to play mind tricks on your enemy. There are many different things to try out, but I'll let you figure your own way.

Clutching rounds is a combination of a player's good plays and an enemy's mistakes, however you can greatly tilt the odds in your favour if you play sensibly. Having solid fundamentals (aim, spray etc.) and following the basic principles above should put you on a path to success. To summarise:

- Stay calm.

- Identify if the clutch is realistically winnable or not.

- Use information from your team, prepare and adapt to counter your enemies.

- Stay quiet, keep moving, gain a suprise factor on your enemies.

- Turn a 1vX into individual 1v1s.

Good luck out there on the battlefield - welcome to the clutch!