Counter-Strike Tips

Burst Fire
Because Counter-Strike tries to simulate the recoil of actual guns, the longer you hold down the trigger the less accurate your rounds become. Unless you are at point blank range, after the first few shots you will likely just be blasting ammunition into the wild blue yonder, well over the heads of the enemy. To prevent this, and make your ammo count for something, it is a common practice in Counter-Strike to fire in short bursts of only two or three rounds, giving you a chance steady up for the next shot.

Compensate for Recoil
It may seem like common sense, but if you know that your weapon is going to recoil, it helps to compensate for it as best you can, typically by aiming down a little. Of course, the longer you press the trigger, the more difficult it will become to compensate adequately, so this is most effective when combined with burst fire as described above.

Plan Your Reloads
Reloading is one of the elements that differentiates Counter-Strike from some of the earlier FPSes. When your gun runs out of ammo, you must replace the clip, and although this can be done quite quickly, it often makes the difference between life and death. Try not to jump into an O.K. Corral style shoot-out without a fully loaded weapon, and when the time comes to reload, it's nice to have somewhere that you're not a sitting duck to do it.

Keep Your Pistol Handy
On a similar note, since you can switch weapons faster than you can reload in most FPSes, a quick weapon change at a critical moment can turn around the confrontation. We've all seen two players empty their guns into (or near) each other and almost simultaneously run out of ammo. Sometimes a good Counter-Strike player will finish the enemy off with his pistol or even his knife rather than wait for a reload.

Customize Your Controls
Making fast weapon changes and pulling off more complex maneuvers swiftly is greatly facilitated by customizing game controls and using scripts. Every player seems to have a personal preference when it comes to key combinations, and having the commands you need at your fingertips will speed up your gameplay considerably, although you will have to experiment with different configurations. Many experts have a custom configuration for each different class that they play.

Strategic Jumping
When you're in an open area or you know there are snipers targeting you, it's important to move around as much and as unpredictably as possible. Jumping, but not too regularly, can force the enemy to aim vertically as well as horizontally, or it can, if you're lucky, turn what would have been a head shot into something a little less damaging. That said, some players are prone to jumping continuously, even when out of harm's way, which can make you look like an idiot.

Listen Carefully
Sound is a big part of FPSes these days, giving players hints as to where shots are coming from, or if someone is walking up behind them. Try to learn the different weapon types by sound. It always helps to know whether you're going into a pistol fight or an AK-47 battle. A good sound system can make a difference here. Since version 1.3 it has become possible to use voice communication with Counter-Strike, which can change the gameplay experience quite dramatically and simplify team organization.

Plan Grenade Use
Grenades in Counter-Strike are limited in supply and should be used wisely. A common approach is to soften the enemy up with a few grenades before going in for the final assault. Flashbang grenades, for example, will temporarily blind those caught in the blast radius, making them vulnerable to attack. Of course, a grenade can also come in handy if you need to buy some time to make a quick retreat, or create a distraction.

Crouching and Walking
Crouching will not only steady your weapon, it will lower your profile a little and make you a smaller target. Remember that walking is silent in Counter-Strike, and by default you run all the time, so get to know those controls. Crouching and moving at the same time, while slow, also allows you to move silently. These techniques are critical if you want to sneak up on the enemy without being heard

Try to Work as a Team
Rambo looks good in the movies, but it rarely pays off to abandon your teammates and go Kamikaze in Counter-Strike. Typically you run straight into the gunfire (and laughter) of a group of enemy players. In many cases it's nearly impossible to accomplish the game objectives in Counter-Strike without a coordinated effort, assuming that the enemy team isn't asleep at the switch. A team is usually most effective if they are carrying a variety of weaponry, since weapons in most games are designed to have strengths and weaknesses. It isn't every day that a plan comes together in an online action game, but there are rare moments when the whole thing somehow doesn't deteriorate into complete chaos, and that's what it's all about.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Like almost any game, the best way to get better is to practice. This may seem daunting when you first get into a game with a bunch of experienced players, but with a little patience you will find yourself surviving longer and even scoring a few frags.

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