When getting into a game of matchmaking there's a high chance you will be playing the map De_dust2 since it is undoubtedly the most popular map in CS:GO. Knowing a couple good strategies is really important and can win you the game. In this guide we will be looking at two very effective and simple pistol round strategies for the terrorist side. One strategy for the A site, and one for the B site.

In a BO1 (Best of One) the pistol rounds are arguably the most important rounds of the game. Winning a pistol round can give you a three round lead if played out correctly, because after a pistol round loss you will be forced to an eco or a small force-buy and you will only be able to buy fully on the fourth round. This gives your team a higher chance to win those rounds, since you have the advantage in equipment. So if you win both the CT and the T pistol round, it will make winning the entire game a lot easier.

Now that we have covered the importance of winning a pistol round, let’s get into the first strategy.

B Split

What to buy.
Two players need to buy the equipment, I’d suggest a smoke, a flash and a p250. These two people will need to use the smoke and flash to execute the strategy. The other three players buy armor and maybe a decoy, these players will take the bullets and rush in first.

What to do.
Keep in mind that this strategy requires speed, you want to catch the CT side off guard with a fast push down mid. Two players with armor and the bomb go to upper tunnels without making any noise, we don’t want the CT’s to know that this is going to be a B hit. The other three will go mid, but first they need to make the CT’s think they are going long or at least make them think there can be players there. This will prevent the CT’s from rotating to B early, and possibly keep a CT player at long. One of the players with a flash will need to flash long while another player peeks and fires a couple of shots, you can also use a decoy but it’s best to give the CT’s visual conformation that there is indeed a terrorist at long. This player can also get some good information on how many players are long. After that you immediately go back to outside long. If the enemy team is smart, they will try and keep long control by keeping a CT player there.

After the quick peek long, the three mid players rush to mid-door. There they throw the classic mid-to-B smoke, from Xbox. It is advisable to let the player with armor go in first. You can also use the second flash your team bought here to flash the enemy, if there are any, mid and gain lower mid control. If taking lower mid took too long, the second smoke your team bought can be thrown to block of CT spawn again. Or you can keep it and use it to hold B more passively later on.

If played correctly the CT or CT’s holding B should have their attention focused on mid-to-B. This is where the two players in upper tunnel come in. While the three mid players take lower mid, they quickly rush in to B from tunnel, hopefully catching the B players with their back turned towards them. Take them out and you have B control as easy as that. Now you just have to hold B from the remaining CT’s, which shouldn’t be too much of a problem.

So to recap; two players go to tunnel, three players create a distraction at long. After that they push mid really fast, smoke mid-to-B and take lower mid. While that is happening the two tunnel players push into B, and take out the CT’s focused on mid-to-B.

Late A Split
This strategy requires less finesse and more firepower than the previous strategy. So it is important that you have good aimers on your team when using this strategy. This strategy also revolves around rushing and not being afraid to die.

- What to buy.

Now this is more up to the team itself and how they feel the most comfortable playing a pistol round. However I do suggest buying at least one smoke and a flash to get on to the site or hold the site later on in the round.

- What to do.

Four players rush cat to short. While leaving one player behind at outside long. This player can catch a CT if he decides to push long, but usually he will just wait outside long for the four players to get onto short. The four players going short can smoke Xbox if they don’t want to be shot at by a CT player in lower mid, but they can also try and take the fight. Keep in mind that this will give the CT’s a lot of information, so you need to play fast. After arriving at short they can use a flash and rush A. There they will probably face one or two CT’s defending A, but since you have the man advantage you should be able to win that battle.

While the four terrorists rush onto A from short, the attention from the CT at long should hopefully be drawn towards A. This is when the player at outside long will push into long and backstab the players focusing on A (not literally, but you can try if you want to). This should guarantee you easy A control. Now you just have to hold any CT off going in for the retake.