Basic Strategy

Counter-Strike is based strongly upon the fact that one bullet can and will kill you. Strategy is what wins the round.

Movement - hunting the prey...

• STRAFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - Strafing is very important. Unlike older games, moving to strafing has designated keys. This allows you to evade fire more easily and to be more prepared when attacking.
• JUMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - Jumping is also another key maneuver. climbing on boxes and other obstacles can give you better cover and a better view of the enemy. Be careful not to jump when running away. When you land on the ground, you will slow down for a second before returning to full movement speed. Also be careful not to jump off of high structures and hurt yourself.
• Ducking - VERY IMPORTANT!!!!!!!! Ducking makes you smaller while making your shots a lot more accurate. Very effective with high power weapons like the machine gun or the commando. If you jump and duck while in the air, you can also get on top of bigger boxes.
• Walking - Many people overlook one of the most important features in CS, walking! Walking slows you down to about half your normal speed, but it makes you completely SILENT. If the enemy can't hear you, he wont know where you are. It also gives you a chance to listen for enemies approaching. I suggest wearing headphones while playing CS, as it will give you a better idea of where the enemy is coming from.

Weapons and Equipment - tools of the trade...

• Knife - When using the knife, you travel much faster. Just be sure to switch back to your primary weapon at the sight of an enemy. The secondary fire is VERY effective if you can get close enough.
• Primary Weapon - Choose a weapon that suits your style of play. If you like to get up close and personal, choose a sub-machine gun, shotgun, or even a strong pistol. If you like to be at medium range, buy a rifle; they have more precise shots at a further distance. If you like to be out of the battle, then pickup a sniper rifle. Sniper Rifles are highly accurate, but you must be standing still when firing them.
• Rate Of Fire (ROF) - The ROF of a weapon is very important. Make sure you know how bullets you're going to be throwing at your opponent. Plus, when holding down the trigger, guns quickly become inaccurate. Fire in short controlled bursts, especially with the higher-power guns.
• Scopes - Scopes can be a useful if tool if you're fighting at a distance, or aiming for certain parts of the body. They slow down the ROF of a gun, and make it a little more accurate, while giving you a better view of the enemy.
• Secondary Weapon - Carrying a good pistol is important, especially for snipers. When your primary weapon runs out of ammo, are you going to wait for it to reload? Hell NO!!! Whip out that handgun and dish out some more lead. I recommend the desert eagle. It has the same power as the G3 sniper rifle at a close range. The Sig P228 is also a nice balance of power, clip size and accuracy.

Equipment - accessorize your player...

• Grenades - If effectively used, you can substantially lower an opponents health and gain a much needed advantage. Don't be afraid to bounce them off of walls and throw them over buildings/walls, just be careful they dont bounce back at you!
• Flashbangs - Flashbangs are used to blind you opponent. They are good for opponents who don't expect you to rush. If they can't see, they don't know where you are, which means they can't shoot you.
• Smoke grenades can be used to provide cover when rushing through an area. If the snipers can't see you, what are they going to hit? Throw a smoke grenade in their direction, then rush through, or go the other way and come up behind them.
• Night Vision - Might Vision Gives your screen a greenish tint, and brightens everything a little bit, giving you better sight in the darker maps. Night vision is expensive and its actual practicailty is questionable. Try it out for yourself, and see how it works.