Tips to become a pro in Counter Strike

So, you wanna be a pro in Counter Strike huh… Quite a big deal, provided the fact that there are lots and lots of great players out there waiting to frag you down.

Now, I have seen a big misconception among amateurs about being a pro. Many people think that being a pro mean playing well ahead of others in the pubs. When in reality a player can only be called a pro when he plays with a clan at organized tournaments in order to earn money. Naturally, these players play well better than others.

Okay, enough of that shit. Now let’s come to the point. If you wanna be a real pro in CS you have to keep in mind that there are two different facets of being a pro. 1. Playing well individually and 2. playing well with your clan (teamwork).

I will touch both these facets separately and provide you with tips which will help you guys improve your game a lot faster. The first tip which does not require a serial number – practice as much as you can. Remember there is no substitute for practice.

Tips for improving individual game:

1. Be patient and cool while firing. Remember, your cool mind is your biggest friend. Don’t worry, this will come quickly once you start practicing it consciously.
2. Understand the recoil mechanism and bullet aggressions for every weapon. You may not be using all of them all the time, but its better to know them since while in a match, you will have limited money and hence limited options to buy weapons.
3. Never shoot while walking or running! Always stop for a fraction of second and fire and move again. The correct technique is called SSCFS – Side step – Stop – Crouch – Fire – Side step. It is quicker done than said.
4. Never fire more than 4 bullets at a time, when shooting from a distance. Spray only when you are in slapping distance from the enemy.
5. Practice perfect throw for HE Grenades and Flashbangs. You can get a good tutorial here.
6. Always aim above the belt of the enemy. Better still if you can aim within the bust.
7. Learn to do bunny hop. This technique will help you immensely while crossing corners or doors or when you know that a sniper is waiting for you at the other end. You can get a very good tutorial here.
8. Always use the walk button when in common territory. When you walk (Hold down shift normally) it makes it impossible for others to hear you! Only run when going out of the Spawn area.
9. Always use crouch while shooting! When you crouch, your aim becomes a lot steady and makes it easier for you to head shot the opposition. It can also confuse your opponent if they think you are standing up when your are actually crouching!
10. When knifing, use your right-click button on your mouse to attack! If you use the left-click button, it is called slapping and is very weak and can take up to 6-7 hits to kill someone. If you right-click correctly it would take 2 hits to kill someone! (Or 1, if you can head-shot).
11. If you can't shoot without the cross hair or reticle (the + in the middle of the screen) don't use the sniper rifle. (Remember, we are talking pro here. One wrong shot can cost you and your clan a tournament).
12. If a flash bomb is thrown towards you then look in the opposite direction with your back pointing towards flash bomb .This will have minimum effect on you and you will not get blind from that flash. This happens in a second so you have to be quick.
13. Always reload your weapon after killing an enemy. It is useless to drop in front of your next enemy with an empty round.
14. Know the exact spam spots for every map. If you are sure that you opponent is hiding behind an obstacle / wall then do not hesitate to open fire through that obstacle because in this game your bullets will penetrate through almost everything. Get two good tutorials here and here.

Tips for in-game improvement and better game strategy:

1. The whole team should always have Kevlar and Helmet (once there is enough money to buy both of them). It almost doubles the chances of winning.
2. Never overbuy in any round. Buy just what you need. For instance, if you know that there is likely to be a sniper in the enemy team then only go for the smoke bomb, otherwise not. Nothing hurts more than being broke next round and having to save because you went overboard last round on that whole arsenal of equipment.
3. Divide task among the team like who will lead, who will carry the grenade, who will cover the grenade thrower, who will be the magger, who will be the distracter (if any at all) etc. Let the clan leader decide on the task division.
4. Picking up a killed fighters weapon is always a cost effective way of upgrading yourself.
5. Avoid guarding or heading the heat spots alone, unless short of people.
6. Never go head on with a sniper. Yes, you might be good enough to pick him off in one head-shot far away, but he could also as easily pick you off with a leg shot far away. If it’s absolutely unavoidable, always use the smoke grenade.
7. If your enemy has seen you at a particular spot, run from there. Surprise is a big factor in this game.
8. Always plant the bomb in an easy-to-locate spot, so that wherever you guard, you have a clear view of it. Nothing more frustrating than being a super hero and killing four people only to have the last one hiding behind a box defusing because your stupid teammate planted with poor judgment.
9. Make sure to spread out and have each person guard an entrance of the respective bombsite; there are no results if everyone looks straight at the window.
10. Patience is the key. If you set up a shot and are waiting there for a person you know is about to peek, just wait. Always trust your teammate's opinion, your own instincts, and never act too rash. That one second between guarding and walking away could be the second that you lost your chance to win.
11. Do camping where ever required. Camping is like taking a position and waiting for your opponent to arrive and then opening fire. Many people consider this cowardly act but it is 100% legit. Remember, your one and only aim is to win.
12. Never blow your cover by shooting without seeing your opponent. They will know that you are nearby and they will get alert.
13. Learn your maps! Seriously this is the best advice you can get. Run around the maps, watch demo's of teams playing, spectate some pub, anything to teach you where people camp or watch from. When you come round corners, aim your crosshair on these places.
14. Walking or running speed (while carrying different weapons) can be a big factor in winning or losing a game. A couple of seconds late in defusing the bomb and it can take away a whole round. Its absolutely necessary to have a good knowledge of relative speed differences of walking or running when weapon in hand. Refer the below image for a better understanding:

Good luck fragging…