The Ultimate CS2 Positioning Guide

Summary

This video script delves into the strategic aspect of macro and micro-positioning in CS:GO, focusing on both Terrorist (T) and Counter-Terrorist (CT) sides. It emphasizes the importance of understanding map control, filling gaps, rotating effectively, and communicating with teammates. For CTs, it discusses defaults, leveraging space, and anticipating enemy moves, while for Ts, it highlights the need for dynamic play, creating space, and capitalizing on picks. The script provides insights into how positioning affects gunfights, site control, and round outcomes, urging players to be unpredictable and adaptive in their gameplay.

Takeaways

• 😎 Understanding Macro-Positioning: It's crucial for players to comprehend the strategic positioning on a broader scale, considering the entire team's placement and the spaces they control or concede on the map.
• 👀 Constant Minimap Awareness: Players should frequently check the minimap to stay informed about teammates' positions and enemy movements, which simplifies game understanding and enhances decision-making.
• 🔄 The Importance of Rotation: Knowing when and how to rotate is vital for both CTs and Ts. It involves moving between spaces to reinforce areas under threat or to anticipate enemy actions.
• 💣 Anticipate Bomb Planting: On CT side, it's not enough to wait until the bomb is planted to react. Players should anticipate enemy moves and bolster defenses at sites they expect the enemy to target.
• 👥 Team Communication: Communicating your positioning and movements is key for coordinating team efforts, filling gaps, and executing strategies effectively.
• 🔄 Adaptability in Defaults: Teams should be flexible with their default strategies, adjusting based on the enemy's tactics and the specific dynamics of each round.
• 🚫 Avoiding Predictability: Players should avoid being too predictable with their positioning and movements to prevent the enemy from easily countering their actions.
• 💪 Impact through Space Control: Taking and holding key spaces on the map can have a significant impact on the game, even without getting kills.
• 🤝 Grouping for Retakes: On the CT side, grouping effectively for retakes can secure sites more efficiently, especially when numbers are low.
• 🎯 Micro-Positioning Nuances: On a smaller scale, players need to consider the angles they hold, the crossfires they create, and the repositioning after engagements to maintain an advantage in fights.
• 🛑 Slowing Down and Reevaluating: When the initial push is slowed or stopped, players should reassess the situation, consider their options, and adjust their strategy accordingly.

Q & A

What is the importance of macro-positioning in CS:GO?

Macro-positioning is crucial in CS:GO as it involves strategic team-based decisions about where to allocate players on the map to control or defend areas, anticipate enemy movements, and effectively respond to the opposing team's strategies.

What does the term 'filling the gap' in macro-positioning mean?

'Filling the gap' in macro-positioning refers to taking up a position on the map that is currently unoccupied by teammates to ensure coverage and prevent the enemy from exploiting unguarded areas.

Why is rotating as a Counter-Terrorist (CT) important?

Rotating is important for CTs to move from one position to another based on the evolving game situation. It allows the team to reinforce areas under threat, anticipate enemy moves, and maintain control over key areas of the map.

What is the difference between 'on angles' and 'off angles' in micro-positioning?

In micro-positioning, 'on angles' are the default angles that Terrorists (Ts) expect and are ready to fight, while 'off angles' are less expected and can provide the element of surprise. However, off angles often lack cover, making them more vulnerable to being traded after a kill.

Why is it recommended to clear the area you're holding before rotating?

Clearing the area before rotating ensures that no enemies are lurking in the space you're leaving. It prevents the enemy from gaining an advantage by knowing your position and potentially catching you off guard when you move to a new location.

What is the significance of communication in macro-positioning?

Communication is vital in macro-positioning as it informs teammates about the spaces that are being left open or newly occupied, allowing them to adjust their strategies accordingly and maintain a cohesive defense or offense.

Can you explain the concept of 'gamble stacking' in CS:GO?

Gamble stacking is a strategy used when a team is at a numerical disadvantage. Instead of trying to hold the entire map, players commit to defending a single site, 'gambling' that the enemy will attack there. It can create a more winnable situation if executed correctly.

What is 'retaking' and why is it a strategic move in CS:GO?

Retaking involves allowing the enemy to take a site and then counterattacking to reclaim it. It's strategic because it can catch the enemy off guard and potentially lead to a more advantageous fight, especially if the defending team can capitalize on the element of surprise.

Why is it important for Terrorists to control certain areas of the map during their default strategy?

Controlling specific areas during the default strategy as Terrorists provides the team with options to execute attacks or gather information. It puts pressure on the CTs, forcing them to spread out and defend multiple points, which can be exploited by the Terrorists.

How does the concept of 'selling space' benefit a team that is low on numbers?

Selling space means intentionally leaving certain areas of the map unguarded to concentrate forces in more critical areas. This benefits a team that is low on numbers by allowing them to create a numbers advantage at a specific site, increasing their chances of successfully defending or attacking.

Outlines

00:00

🎮 Mid Role Adaptation and Macro-Positioning

The speaker discusses the importance of adapting to different roles in a game, particularly focusing on the mid role and its impact on the game's macro-positioning. They explain how to fill gaps left by teammates, observe the minimap for strategic positioning, and the concept of rotating to different areas based on the opponent's movements. The speaker emphasizes the need for anticipation and communication with teammates when rotating positions, as well as the strategic use of 'gamble stacking' when outnumbered.

05:01

🤔 Anticipation and Communication in Macro-Positioning

This paragraph delves deeper into the roles of rotator positions, the importance of anticipating the opponent's moves, and the strategic use of clearing spaces before rotating. The speaker highlights the significance of communication during rotates to inform teammates of open and occupied spaces, which aids in formulating a collective defense strategy. The concept of 'gamble stacking' is further explored, where the team commits to a specific area based on gathered information, and the strategy of 'retaking' areas post-opponent occupation is introduced.

10:01

👥 Teamwork and Grouping in Macro-Positioning

The speaker discusses the importance of grouping and teamwork in macro-positioning, especially during retakes and in situations where the team is at a numerical disadvantage. They explain how to effectively use the minimap to understand team positioning and to make informed decisions about grouping for defense or offense. The dangers of solo plays are highlighted, and the video emphasizes the need for synchronized team movements and strategic planning when pushing or holding positions.

15:03

🔄 T Side Macro-Positioning and Adaptability

Shifting focus to the Terrorist side, the speaker outlines the fluid nature of T side macro-positioning, which often requires reactive strategies based on the Counter-Terrorist's positioning. They discuss the importance of taking space and getting picks as overarching goals for Terrorist defaults, which can vary depending on the map and the level of play. The speaker also touches on the dynamic nature of T side defaults and the need to adjust strategies based on the opponent's actions.

20:05

🏹 T Side Execution and Mid-Round Decisions

This paragraph focuses on the mid-round decision-making process for the Terrorist side, emphasizing the importance of maintaining numbers advantage and making strategic rotations when the initial push is slowed down. The speaker advises on the use of sound to mask movements and keep the enemy guessing, as well as the need for quick and decisive actions when the team is split or when a numbers advantage is lost.

25:05

🤺 Micro-Positioning: Angles and Site Control

The speaker transitions into a discussion on micro-positioning, starting with the Counter-Terrorist side. They explain the concepts of on and off angles, the importance of holding angles that are difficult for Terrorists to expect and trade. The paragraph covers the use of crossfires and contact plays to maximize the effectiveness of site control, and the need for repositioning after engagements to maintain unpredictability.

30:06

🛡️ Advanced CT Micro-Positioning Techniques

Building on the previous discussion, this paragraph explores advanced micro-positioning strategies for CTs, including the use of natural crossfires and the importance of repositioning to avoid predictable patterns. The speaker advises on how to start rounds dynamically and to use utility wisely to maintain control of key areas, emphasizing the need for flexibility and unpredictability in player positioning.

🏹 T Side Micro-Positioning: Spacing and Execution

The final paragraph focuses on Terrorist side micro-positioning, highlighting the importance of spacing between teammates to facilitate trades and the need for swift and aggressive clearing of space during site takes. The speaker discusses the role of the first player in an execution to create space and the responsibility of subsequent players to be ready for trades. The paragraph concludes with advice on leveraging picks to gain space and the importance of game sense in effective positioning.

Keywords

💡Macro-positioning

Macro-positioning refers to the broader, strategic positioning of players on the map in relation to their teammates and the enemy team. It is a team-based approach that involves understanding the overall layout of players and making decisions based on the minimap. In the video, macro-positioning is discussed in the context of filling gaps, rotating, and anticipating enemy movements. For example, if three players are moving towards site B, a mid player might decide to fill the gap and take control of the mid area to have an impact.

💡Micro-positioning

Micro-positioning is the more nuanced, individualistic aspect of positioning that focuses on the specific angles and areas a player chooses to hold during a round. It involves making decisions on a smaller scale, such as choosing an on or off angle to hold against the enemy team. The video emphasizes the importance of micro-positioning for both CTs and Ts, explaining how it can affect trades, site holds, and the ability to win fights.

💡Defaults

Defaults are the standard positions that players take at the beginning of a round, which are typically based on the map's design and common strategies. The video script explains that defaults are effective macro-positioning strategies that teams can play by default, sending players to specific areas of the map to take or hold space. For instance, having two players on B is a common default because of its multiple entry points.

💡Rotate

Rotating in the context of the video refers to the movement of players from one position to another during a round. It is a key aspect of macro-positioning and involves anticipating the enemy's moves and adjusting the team's positioning accordingly. The script mentions that waiting until seeing the bomb on the minimap before rotating is poor advice; instead, players should anticipate and bolster their defense at sites they think the enemy will attack.

💡Crossfires

Crossfires are a setup in which an opponent is exposed to fire from two or more directions simultaneously. This concept is crucial for both macro and micro-positioning, as it allows players to cover each other and create difficult situations for the enemy. The video script uses the example of a player holding an angle where if an enemy crosses a certain point, they would be exposed to fire from both a coffin and a new box angle.

💡Contact Plays

Contact plays involve one player taking initial contact with the enemy to draw their attention, allowing another player to make a more advantageous play. This concept is vital for shutting down enemy executes and ensuring that trades occur in the team's favor. The video script explains that these plays are essential for winning fights on sites and emphasizes the need for teamwork and coordination in executing them.

💡Lurk

Lurking in the video script refers to a player moving quietly and stealthily to catch an enemy off-guard or to gain an advantageous position. It is a tactic used to disrupt the enemy team's positioning and can be effective when used in conjunction with other strategies like picks and space control. The script mentions how off angles can be particularly useful for lurking plays where enemies are not expecting contact.

💡Execute

An execute in the video refers to a coordinated push by the Terrorist team to take a site quickly and aggressively. The video script discusses how positioning, particularly micro-positioning, plays a critical role in executing sites effectively. It also touches on the importance of spacing and ensuring that players are in a position to trade kills when the enemy team is contesting the site.

💡Gamble Stacking

Gamble stacking is a strategy where the Counter-Terrorist team commits their numbers to a specific site based on information or a hunch, leaving other areas of the map vulnerable. The video script explains that this strategy is often used when the CT team is at a numbers disadvantage and needs to consolidate their defense to have a better chance of winning the round.

💡Repositioning

Repositioning is the act of changing one's position after an engagement or as a strategic move. The video script highlights the importance of repositioning to avoid becoming predictable and easy to counter by the enemy team. It emphasizes the need for fluidity and unpredictability in positioning, especially after getting a kill or when starting a round.

💡Picks

Picks in the video script refer to isolated kills that a player achieves, often through stealth or by catching an enemy off-guard. These plays can provide a significant advantage by reducing the enemy team's numbers and allowing the picker's team to gain control of a contested area. The script discusses how picks can be leveraged to take space and make subsequent fights easier.

Highlights

Adapting to fill gaps in the team's positioning is crucial for effective gameplay, especially in the early round.

Understanding macro-positioning involves looking at the minimap and assessing team needs for space control.

The importance of rotating between positions to strengthen team defense and anticipate enemy movements.

Clearing space before rotating to ensure no enemies lurk and maintaining map awareness.

Communication of rotates is vital for team coordination and informing teammates of open and occupied spaces.

Gamble stacking as a strategy when outnumbered, committing to a specific site to strengthen the defense.

The concept of selling space to focus on more critical areas of the map when short on numbers.

Retaking as a strategy, allowing the enemy to take a site with the intention of countering with superior numbers.

Grouping as a method to execute retakes effectively and to ensure team coordination.

The significance of macro-positioning in influencing micro-positioning decisions on the CT side.

The role of off angles in surprising the enemy and their trade-off with on angles in terms of cover and predictability.

Utilizing natural crossfires to force the enemy to expose themselves to multiple angles simultaneously.

Executing contact plays to bait the enemy and create opportunities for teammates to swing in for kills.

Repositioning after getting a kill to avoid being an easy target for the enemy.

The necessity of unpredictability in positioning to keep the enemy guessing and maintain an advantage.

Spacing in T side micro-positioning to enable effective trades and clear space during executes.

The importance of adapting T side defaults based on the skill level of the opposing CTs and their positioning.

The role of game sense in T side micro-positioning to leverage picks and space effectively.

Transcripts

so let people take your spot if they wanna play E-box

okay fine

I'll go play mid and I'll have impact mid

and I'll figure out how to play mid

fill the gap at the beginning of the round

look at the minimap where are my teammates going

okay

we're sending three towards B I'll fill the gap mid

I'll take mid and I'll have impact here fill the gap

play the space that you are needed

play the space that isn't being filled by other players

the next CT side

macro-positioning aspect that we have to talk about

is rotating

rotating is where you move from one space to another

from a macro-positioning standpoint

one of the worst pieces of advice

you'll hear about rotating is to wait

until you see the bomb

if you see the T's pushing a site on the minimap

with bomb yes

you should rotate

but you also need to anticipate things

especially on some CT defaults

depending on what position you're playing

some positions are rotator position

so if we're playing two mid

one of these mid players is a fast rotate

if mid is very quiet and the T's aren't rushing mid

or aren't pressuring it too heavily

the second player is free to go towards A

to strengthen the A hold

or to go towards B to strengthen the B hold

there's no reason

we both have to sit on mid and just wait wait

wait until we see bomb in the minimap

we need to anticipate things

and bolster our defense

towards sites that we think the T's are going to go to

it can be incredibly powerful to clear

the space that you're holding before

before you rotate for example

if mid is really quiet

and I've just been holding it like this

on a little off angle before

I think I need to rotate I should clear this

and make sure nobody is lurking up mid

before I immediately run away

when I run away I'm giving sound cues that hey

I'm leaving

I'm telling this T that you can take this space

so it can be really valuable to make sure that okay

we're good there's no lurks here

I'm gonna rotate now too

communicate your rotates

macro-positioning is a team based thing

X's and O's on the minimap

so when you communicate your rotates

that tells the other players what space is open

and what space is not if I rotate off mid

I was solo mid and we have a solo A player

so I'm leaving mid fully open

I need to tell that A player that hey

mid is now open

I'm leaving that space that can inform the A player

okay maybe I should play A a bit more passive

I should go

come over towards cams and hold mid from here

and then we can play retake towards A

or it could inform that A player

maybe I should take some space towards A main

and then we can give mid let them come through A

and then I have a power position here in A main

where we can crunch the T's very quickly

so communicate your intentions

communicate your rotates

because that gives the info

to your teammates that hey

this space is open this space is not

you need to react to that

another macro-positioning thing

you need to be aware of

and you need to know is gamble stacking

gamble stacking typically occurs in the mid round

once we've gotten some info

once some kills have occurred

that's when we start to gamble stack

now we gamble stack

especially when we're low on numbers

when we have fewer players than our opponent does

let's say it's a 3 v 5 here on Anubis

if we play one on A and we play one on mid

and we play one on B

we're not holding shit right

the T's have a 5 v 1 essentially everywhere

when we're in these man down situations

really the only way we're gonna hold

sites is if one of these guys

has an insane hero play and just gets like 3 kills

4 kills or if we gamble stack

if we feel like it's going to be B

let's commit our numbers over towards B

so then if they do come B

we have a 3 v 5 as CTs

which is very winnable if they don't come B okay

then we can just save

we can save our guns into the next round

unlucky go next

gamble stacks can be a bit more flexible than that

for example if we feel like it's gonna be A

we can play one cake

maybe one heaven and then one cams over here

just spotting mid playing for info here on mid

so that we're not leaving the entire map open

except for A

we still have some info on other parts of the map

we're just selling B

so the concept of selling space is very important

because when we're low on numbers

we can't control the whole map anymore

we don't have five people to hold

every single choke point

we have to sell space

in exchange for having a better hold

in other space

similar to that idea of selling space

another concept you need to know is retaking

playing for retake

this is where we allow the T's to take a site

and our goal is to play for the retake

similar to gamble stacking

we can send numbers towards

a different part of the map

for example on Anubis

we can send 3 towards B

one guy can flash through for two guys

and I miss the flash of course

but we can take space outside of B

but the problem with that right

like we talked about with defaulting

is that now we only have one mid and we only have 1 A

so if the T's do like a fast mid or fast A

we're kind of screwed right

so instead of that we can play for retake

and typically on Anubis

the site that you play for retake for is A site

retaking on A site is a bit easier than retaking on B site

so what that means is that we can sell A

we can be playing for retake on A

and we can keep 2

mid and 3 towards B so that we have a good hold mid

we can kill any lurks or any pushes mid

and we can take space outside of B here

in exchange for playing for retake on A

so I think you're seeing the pattern of granting

space and taking space

we can't take everything at once

because we don't have the numbers to

if we play a typical default 2 B

2 mid 1 A and then one guy swings B main

one guy swings E box one guy pushes A main

two guys run out mid

it's very unlikely that we're going to be able to

effectively take space anywhere

because we don't have the numbers to

that's why we have to sell space

we have to grant the T's space

we have to gamble right

in exchange for us as CTs to take other spaces

now the last thing with CT side macro-positioning

I'm gonna talk about is grouping

this is pretty similar to gamble

stacking or playing for retake

it's just a general concept that you have to be

very cognisant of

and that's just playing with your team

too many teams makes so many solo plays for example

if we're playing 2 mid and 3 b

let's say

and then the T's run out A and they smoke cams

if somebody just runs through this cam

smoke and tries to take this

1 v 5 as the T's are running out

they're gonna die it's not gonna work

so we need to group and play together

in order to make this retake work

and what that means is that our rotate over towards A

has to be in sync right

maybe we can send two

through E-box to play this flank

and then we can send three out here towards cams

and we could do a little split through cams

and through A main

so now we're kind of getting into the T sided brain

because retakes are essentially just roles

reversed CTs have to push into a space

T's have to hold that space right

my main point here look at the mini map

look look at the minimap

so many people don't look

at the minimap nearly enough

and they don't know what's going on

train yourself

to constantly be aware of your teammates positioning

from a macro standpoint

the game will simplify itself so much more

because then you'll understand

where are my teammates playing

what space do we have what space do we not have

and how can we group in an effective way

to play for retake or how can we group

an effective way to hold different pushes

okay that was a lot of info

I hope you're still with me

if you are like this video and subscribe to my channel

okay alright

let's move on to T side macro-positioning

macro-positioning from the T side perspective is

a little bit harder to approach than the CT side

perspective on CT

the defaults are really kind of clear

like there's just a general

very well understood default for every map

that generally works on T side

there is that

but I would say T side defaults are just a bit more

fluid than CT defaults

T side defaults

can often be very reactive to how the CTs

take space at the beginning of the round

so for example here on ancient

if the CTs are throwing an instant elbow smoke

and then molly molly nade nade

they're taking mid super early as Ts

how we react to that is that we run up shelf

and we take cave right

mid player comes up they drop a molly boxes

these two take JAG

either kill this guy or force him to retreat

so

we exchange this mid space in order for us to take JAG

and hopefully take cave now alternatively

if the CTs play mid very passively

we can swing numbers over towards mid

and maybe run 3 out mid we smoke red off early

we swing mid together

and we take this mid space fast

and then we can leave one bottom B

and then one outside A patrolling this push

so then we're exchanging that space

based on how the CTs

are approaching the map

what I'm trying to say here is that

T side defaults can often

really change depending on what skill level you're at

so if you're playing a team at a high level

who is throwing instant elbow smokes

and taking mid aggressively

then swinging three out mid every round

not gonna work

but if you're playing a team

who doesn't know how to control mid

or fight for mid properly

as a CT then as Ts

your default can just be taking mid every round right

that's really strong this space is really good to take

so T side defaults a bit more dynamic

and a bit more fluid than CT defaults

however in between maps

the overall goal of T side defaults are consistent

is to get information take space and to get picks

what that looks like is gonna change

depending on what map you're on

for example on Vertigo

taking space

middle is way less important than taking space ramp

if we're able to take ramp

then we we can threaten an A exec at any point right

if we have full ramp we could throw a gap smoke

we could throw a right side

we could throw molly towards heaven right

we could execute at any time

that forces the CTs to play 2 or even 3

holding A at all times for that reason

because the space is so strong for Ts to control

that means that on T side defaults

you'll typically send 3 Ts towards bottom ramp

one controlling mid and then one controlling B

so think about the spaces on maps

that opens the round up

if you have control of them as a T

from a macro perspective inferno

it's banana if you have banana control

you can threaten to execute B site at any point

for vertigo it's ramp control if you have ramp control

you can threaten to execute A at any point

if you don't the CTs can just sit here

play info and then send numbers towards mid and B

and you're in a pretty tough spot at that point

for nuke it's outside if you take outside control

you can pinch A through mini you can wrap heaven

you can go secret for mirage

it's middle if you have middle control

you get my point so from an individual aspect

if you want to have the most impact

you can focus on these areas in your T side defaults

if you can

be a contributing member

and take ramp with your team

that's impact

even if you don't get any kills

taking this space from a macro view is very valuable

so once we've defaulted this is the next topic

which is leaning or grouping generally

just the mid round right

the mid round is about 40 50 60 seconds into the round

what are we gonna do now

let's say we take ramp

it's a 4 v 4 we got a trade in order to take ramp

what now we have two on ramp we have one mid

we have 1 B

now it's time that we group and decide what

we're gonna do so many rounds fizzle out

because defaults last too long

when defaults last a long time

people start poking and prodding too much

maybe one guy runs out mid and dies

while there's no pressure towards A

no pressure towards B so this CT mid is comfortable

just sitting here waiting for this guy to swing

maybe this B guy who's over here alone

runs up and tries to take a fight right

we have to play our numbers now

here's what I mean by numbers

let's look at the situation

we get this kill on A

so it's two on A

we have two ramp

we have one mid one mid

one B one B

if each of us push this right now

we're giving a 2 v 2 on A

we're giving a 1 v 1 on mid

and we're giving a 1 v 1 on B

not great odds not great odds right

defensive players (CTs)

have the inherent advantage of their positioning

being completely unknown most of the time

this guy could be guardian

he could be under sandbags

he could be here he could be here

he could be boosted he could be a number of places

all the T can do is push this choke right

that's the inherent advantage of CT

that's why numbers is incredibly important

because if we bring numbers over towards A right

this guy comes downstairs

and he walks towards A boom

now we can smoke short we can smoke gap here

we can smoke right side as well

okay cool

let's say we just have those two smokes down

so in this situation if we have numbers towards A

and we're able to trade out these two kills

let's say this guy goes elevator

he gets one kill and then he gets traded

boom gone

one of our T's gone

let's say this guy jumps up headshot

he gets one and then he gets traded

boom gone

T's gone we go

we plant these guys are rotating in

and then all the sudden

we find ourselves in a 2 v 2 situation

where now we have that CT's

defenders advantage of being the holders

we can be anywhere they don't know

we could have walked up cat

we could be sandbag we could be ramp

they're the ones who now have to

push the choke points and clear the space

which is inherently just disadvantageous

so that's why trading is so good

and pushing with numbers is so good

so think about these rounds in terms of numbers

now let's talk about rotates on the T side

when do you wanna rotate why should you rotate

so if we come B

let's say the call out of spawn is let's go B

we come B we're flashing through

we're making a ton of noise

we get smoked off but now the CTs know like

oh my god there's a shid ton of them B stairs

they're gonna be rotated B

as T's

we don't really wanna push this anymore

we don't necessarily have an advantage

they have util down they have numbers on B

now

we've kind of lost our element of surprise of numbers

of being able to overwhelm them

once we get slowed down

that's when we have to slow down

and play the rest of the round out

so many people panic

and just wanna push push push push

slow down look at the mini map retake some space

rotate on over towards A retake ramp

because the

the likelihood is that A players rotated it off

maybe there's still one there

but our numbers advantage is now much better

over towards A and so when we're doing that

we also have to think about the sound as we rotate

what information are we giving the CTs

if we all just book it and run away

they're gonna hear that

and they're gonna rotate a ton towards A

but if we slow it down and we shift walk over

they're still worried about oh

maybe they're just gonna re-exec into B

maybe they're just gonna pop out at any moment

and they're probably gonna keep two here still

and so that means that there's gonna be one mid

and there's most likely gonna be 2A

and so if we walk all up ramp with three

or four or five people

now we have a numbers advantage over towards A

similar to fill the gap on CT side

on T side

you have to be looking at the minimap and seeing

envisioning how this round is gonna play out

if 3 people run up ramp

they have bomb and they get a kill

you're stuck on B and your mid player dies

there's not a whole lot you can do on B anymore

your mid player can't pressure mid anymore

if you walk up you're just gonna take this 1 v 1

so you have to come to the decision

either I'm going to do this crazy lurk play

where once I hear this B guy

rotate I'm gonna walk out and try to try to flank

or I'm just gonna go towards A and go with my team

and we can execute A together

the worst thing you can do is be

really indecisive in these decisions

where like your team is very

very clearly wanting to go A and finish at A

but you're just sitting here having no impact waiting

waiting waiting so be very cognisant

very responsive to what's happening on the minimap

from that macropositional standpoint of

my team is doing this

I should do this in response

okay macro-positioning we're fuggin done with it

throw it out the window dude

just kidding

it actually has a lot to do with micro-positioning

which is what we're gonna talk about next

CT micro-positioning

how can you position yourself on a site to hold

executes to kill lurks

to just get kills in general

micro-positioning is a bit more nuanced

and individualistic

and a little bit harder to approach

than macro-positioning but I'm going to do my best

to give you

valuable things that you can apply into your games

the first thing is

macro-positioning's effect on your micro-positioning

this has to do with where we're trying to take space

and what numbers do we have at those spaces

for example on Inferno

if we send 3 towards B early

we should be fighting for banana control right

from a micro standpoint if we send 3 towards B

and then we're all just sitting site

what's the point we wanna take this space

so then we can rotate two off and go towards A

and keep one here to anchor

we also have to think about the macro-positioning of the

opponent team where are they sending numbers

typically if they're sending 4 banana every round

and we just have two banana

this is pretty hard to take banana

in this situation

this is where from a macro-positioning standpoint

our CTs on A can take space towards A

so instead

we can dump some nades and then play back towards site

and let the A players take some space

get some good flanks in

so then our hold here can be a bit better

one micro-positioning concept

that you need to know is off angles versus on angles

now on angles are angles that Ts

are expecting they're kind of the default angles

like this is where people like to fight right

CT standing here holding this angle

that's an on angle that's an angle that Ts

are gonna be very ready to fight

an off angle is more so back here

and lots of times an off angle won't have cover

there's not a place where you can easily back up to

right

if I'm standing here and I'm holding this off angle

Ts aren't necessarily expecting this fight

because they're walking out

they're looking towards site

if I'm standing right there

I can get an easy kill

so the power of off angles is the power of surprise

Ts will be worried about other angles

because this is not a normal

you know angle that people hold

the problem with off angles is that

they're very tradable because I don't have cover

if I get a kill and then a T immediately swings out

I'm in a position where I can get traded very easily

this means that off angles are very good against lurks

lurk plays

where Ts will the shift walk up and be very quiet

are gonna hunt for a little kill here

a little pick that's where off angles really strive

because Ts won't be expecting them

and they won't have numbers

to get that trade however

against an execute off angles are a bit less efficient

because T's are ready to get those trades

and off angles you don't

have cover so as a very general rule

if you're expecting an execute

if you're expecting numbers to run at you

on angles are a bit better

if you're expecting lurks

one person

one fight off angles are extremely efficient

now how do we use on angles efficiently

if we're standing here and just holding this

I'm probably gonna die I mean it's angle

it's a right eye angle against another right eye angle

right so that's pretty even but in CS2

there's peeker's advantage

even on LAN in the most perfect conditions

I haven't played LAN I said that as if I have

I haven't played LAN

the point remains even in the most perfect conditions

peeker's advantage will always exist

just because of human reaction times right

if I'm peeking and I'm peeking a certain angle

my brain is prepped and ready

the moment I see somebody shoot them

and so I have my own timer

where because I'm peeking

I know the exact timing of when I'm going to see them

but as a CT if I'm holding an angle

I rely on their timing if they're peeking me

I'm the one who has to react to their peek

you get what I mean

so when you hold on angles for a long time

you give the T's the slight advantage of peeking

and thus not even taken into account ping

or the actual like latency effect of peeker's advantage

my point is you can't just

sit in on angles forever

and expect to win a ton of fights

now this is where

two core concepts about micro-positioning comes in

crossfires and contact

crossfires describes a setup

where your opponent has to

expose themselves to both enemy players

at the same time on different angles

so if I'm sitting here

and then I have a another CT on righT side

new box there a t

who walks out here

is going to expose themselves to both of these angles

at once we're essentially guaranteed a trade if not

we're guaranteed just to kill him

this is why util is so important on T side

to shut down crossfires because a CT

smoke eliminates a ton of crossfires between CT

and site however

even if you're not in a setup with a CT

on a proper crossfire a huge

golden rule of holding angles is to play

natural crossfires

what I mean by this is that if I'm holding this angle

this is a natural crossfire where if a T crosses here

they have to worry about both coffin

and this off angle on new box

even if we don't have a CT sitting coffin

T's don't know that they're gonna try to clear coffin

and then I'm sitting here with their back turn to me

and could get a free easy kill

these angles are so strong

because you're gonna get so many fights where T's

aren't even looking at you

another example could be here at

the pillar holding this kind of angle

or Ts as they scale up

they're gonna be worried about new box

a T who has a

CT smoke down and they're swinging

they worried about new box

they're worried about first orange

because they just cleared dark right

they're not worried about it and then boom

they expose yourself to you here

and so I really want you to focus on these angles

where you know

that Ts are going to be worried about

other places other than where you are taking fights

where you are the only thing that they have to clear

this is a huge problem that I see in lower levels

where people will just sit on these

on angles

where that's the only fight they have to worry about

a T can walk up here contact CT contact coffin boom

and then just isolate that fight

get that 1 v 1 that's very easy for them to win

now let's talk about contact plays

contact plays are where we allow one CT

to take first contact

in order to draw attention away from the second swinger

so if we have the setup

or one's new box

and they take a little fight here right

the Ts are scaling up

the Ts then shift their focus towards new box

and that allows this guy

coffin to swing while the Ts aren't looking at him

so it's kind of a bait and switch play

where one person takes attention

other person cleans up the kills

this is so important I know

it sounds just like a cheeky little

play that you can do no

this is a universal incredibly important concept

because this is how you shut down executes

if instead of doing that contact play

I sit here and hide hold this angle

and then I take like a 1 v 3 here and then I die

and then this guy sits here

new box and then he takes a 1 v 3 and he dies right

we have very little chance of winning that round

so on sites you have to play with your teammates

you have to play those contact plays

where you're baiting Ts into worrying about one thing

and then boom a CT swings from another angle

so in terms of figuring out where to position yourself

on a site you need to think about crossfires

natural crossfires and where can we play contact plays

right if we have let's say one pit

one in site and then one on balc

this creates natural crossfires

and contact plays we can do

where maybe the site guy takes first contact

and then boom pit swings

or maybe this balc guy takes first contact

and then site swings

am I holding an angle

where I'm the only thing they have to worry about

if I'm sitting pit and I'm just holding short like this

I'm the only thing as they swing that they

have to worry about aside from like maybe top balc

if they swing short here

but when we focus on these crossfires

these hot zones right on A

this is the crossfire zone

this is the hot zone

where Ts have to expose themselves to site

to pit to balc to mini pit

they have to expose themselves

to a ton of different angles

that's the zone that we wanna focus on

and position ourselves in a way where we can all focus

on that zone

have a natural crossfire where we can contact

we can kill one duck out another one of us swings

gets another kill duck out right

those are the hardest places to push through

when CTs are playing it correctly

the last thing with CT micro-positioning

I'm going to talk about is repositioning

one piece of advice

you're gonna hear a lot is to play with rifles

as if you're playing with an AWP

what that means is that when you play an angle

you should have a plan B

a plan C fall back points right

so for example if we're playing short

I get a kill here I can fall back

and now I can hold boiler from a deeper position

and do a slight readjustment

slight reposition if I get a kill here

I can fall back and I can run site

and I can play anywhere on site

the point of this is to not give Ts easy trades

if I get a kill here and I sit here and I wait

I am so tradable

because I'm staying in the exact same position I was

it's very easy for Ts to

to swing me and get this kill

because they know where I am

so after you get a kill be unpredictable

don't let the Ts know exactly where you are

reposition be dynamic be fluid be unpredictable

along the same line of thinking

be unpredictable in how you start the round out

if I sit here on this angle

at the beginning of every single round

and this is the first fight I take every round

Ts are gonna figure that out

and they're gonna be able to counter me

switch it up

and be unpredictable with your first contact right

even if I'm playing short

this feels like a very limiting amount of space

but you can play this in so many ways

you can creep up and play an off angle

close mid and swing somebody

if you if you hear their footsteps

you can play this crossfire here

you can play on this side of the balc and hold boiler

you can play deep and just hold boiler

you can get boosted up on top of balcony

play in so many different ways

so

don't be predictable in how you're starting off rounds

be unpredictable reposition

change your location

be dynamic be fluid

T side micro-positioning

like I talked about in the beginning

you remember that that was a while ago

it's all about spacing between teammates

to enable trades to happen

let's say we're scaling up mid as two of us

I have a buddy here with me

if we both walk along this right wall

we are begging to get swung on

and collated by somebody

right however

if one guy walks along close

and the other guy walks a little wider behind him

the second guy can hold the swing

as we scale up and clear these off angles

and then

this close guy will be the first one to contact

these close range fights swing out hard

create space that's the important thing

if you're the first guy swinging

you need to create space if this guy

this first

this first guy just does a tight little swing

then again we're gonna be in a line

and we're gonna be begging to get collated

that's why this first guy needs to swing hard

clear the space fast and if somebody is here

the onus is typically on the second player

to get that trade to get that kill

so if we're executing a site

or trying to take space really fast

as this first player

the entry right

I need a path in a way where I clear out a lot of space

all at once

and this pathing will depend on your util right

so if we have a smoke cams

let's say we don't have any more smokes

then we just have some flashes

through window as this player entrying

I'm going to expose myself to a lot of angles at once

that is okay because I have a second

third fourth guy here

ready to trade me at whatever angle I die from

so this first guy swinging

needs to swing fast and hard

and needs to clear a lot of space at once

in order to figure out where these CTs are

what's important as a second

third fourth guy in

is that

you need to be in a position to trade this first guy

out right

so if this first guy scales up really fast

in towards site and goes around and clears here

and everybody else runs up here

this can be a difficult position to trade

if we have a CT tucked right here

so the 2nd guy or 3rd guy needs to be on this guy's ass

following him ready to get that trade

the simple

core principle here is that we need to be grouped right

we need to be close to each other

as this execute comes out

if we go one by one we're gonna die one by one

and we're not going to guarantee these trades

we can guarantee these trades by being together

by being grouped by scaling as twos

as threes getting out

figuring out where they are

and getting those trades quickly

now on the flip side when we're not being relentless

when we're going slow maybe we're going for a lurk

play or just trying to work a pick

this is where isolating fights is incredibly important

this is where you go nice and slow

you clear out space boom

you peek angles one by one

if we're going somewhere together and fast

you can't be doing this shit

you're gonna slow your team down ton

it's just not good

you need to be going fast and clearing space

but if you're just pushing this as one

or as two people

this is where you can be way more meticulous

in your clears

way more meticulous with your crosshair placement

with clearance space

with just looking for this one singular fight

so that you can get a pick

if you are able to get a pick in these situations

take that space right from a macro perspective

we are typically expecting one on A

two on mid and two on B here on Anubis

so if I walk out A

and let's say I get this pick broken

I'm immediately expecting a close rotate from mid

but I have space I can take if I get this kill boom

I can swing okay

I didn't see him now I can dump my util towards cams

maybe I can drop a molly towards heaven

and I can take some space heaven

use yours picks to leverage space

I get a kill that enables me to take this space

which makes the following fights

much easier for me to win

T side micro-positioning

I would say has a lot to do with Game Sense

so if you haven't seen it

go check out my Game Sense video

because this will help out your positioning so much

this was a long ass video

if you watched the whole thing

please like it and please subscribe to my channel

thank you so much for watching this

and shout out to my channel

members they're scrolling on by

thank you

guys for allowing me to be a goober on the internet

I appreciate you guys tons

have a wonderful day

and good luck and have fun in all of your future games

positioning

where are you on the map

why are you there

why does this guy stink

some very important questions

positioning is kind of everything

it has a huge part in winning gunfights

taking space

holding sites

getting trades

and winning rounds

I'm gonna break it all down for you

right after word from the sponsor of this video

SkinsMonkey

because positioning in CS2 is such a ginormous topic

I've broken it down into two types

the first one is macro-positioning

the second one is micro-positioning

macro-positioning is the zoomed out

more team based thinking about positioning

this is where we're looking at the minimap

and we think of each player as an X

we're not individuals

we're just a group of X's

when we look at these X's

what is the key to winning this round

what space are we fighting for

and what space are we maybe giving up a little bit

in exchange for fighting for this space

so while from that zoomed out perspective

it's less individualistic

macro-positioning has a huge effect on your decision

making within micro-positioning

micro-positioning is probably

more like what you think about

when you first think about positioning

what angles am I holding

how am I playing a site

am I playing aggressive am I playing passive

this is the type of positioning that

you're mostly thinking about

during a game

on T side

micro-positioning is a bit more nuanced

than it is on CT side

on T side

spacing is super important

how we're swinging

angles in a way that allows us to get traded

or to be the trader

clearing space as we get through sites

those are the micro-positional types of things that

you need to think about on T side

and I'm going to explore in this video

now that we have a good

general idea of macro and micro

for both T side and CT side

let's zoom in and let's get more detailed

let's focus on CT side macro-positioning to start

the first thing in terms of CT side macro-positioning

that we need to talk about

are defaults

a default true to its name

is effective macro-positioning that teams can play

by default

this means that we're sending numbers

to where we need

to take space to where we need to hold for example

we have two on B because B has two entrances

we have two on mid

because mid control is quite important

and then we have one anchoring A

because there's one entrance to A

now that's the entrance to player

ratio isn't a universal rule

I'm going to show on the screen

a typical default on CT side for every map

there's actually another video I made

where I ran through every single default

for CT side

and it took kind of forever

but if you wanna go watch that you can watch that

I'll link it down below

but the big thing to know about the default is that

as we stray away from our typical default

we're forfeiting control of one space for

control of another for example

one of these mid guys

can swing over towards E-box (dark)

at the beginning of the round

and we can send 2 towards E-box

and we can fight canals that way

or this mid guy can go A instead

and we can have 2 walk through A main

and push out through A

this weakens mid but strengthens our A control

so if you feel like a team

is doing the same shit over and over and over again to

you guys can change up your default

for example on on Anubis

lots of times

you're gonna get teams that really like B

they send like 3 outside B main

they send 2 to towards E

box and they just go for B splits every round

that's when you start realizing okay

maybe we should stray away from our typical default

and send 3 towards B instead

and then just let there be one mid

and one A

so in terms of CT side defaults

my practical advice to you

is to get comfortable in one position

and understand your responsibilities

when you play that position

for example you could be an E-box player on Anubis

you could be an A anchor

play a position

get comfortable with it

learn the utility for it and become really good at it

now with that piece of advice in mind right

get really good at one position

learn all your util etc still be flexible

don't be the stubborn prick who has to play E-box

or else they're incredibly ineffective

DO IT NOW OR ELSE MY CAT WILL EAT YOU