Understanding rotations, and using this as an advantage on de_mirage

What is a rotation?

A rotation is the movement of counter-terrorist(s) towards the perceived site execution of the terrorists. To understand rotations completely, you have to be aware of the default setups that counter-terrorists run on each map, this will be illustrated below in a table.

Sadly, de_nuke cannot really be included, since the changes on this map it doesn't have a specific 'meta' yet. We will discover this after a while of the map being in the competitive pool, and being played. Although, old de_nuke used to be 1 outside, 2a 2ramp or 2 outside 1a 2ramp or 2 outside 1a 2ramp

Map	Passive default setup(s)
de_dust II	2a 1mid 2b or 3a 1mid 1b
de_cache	2a 1mid 2b or 1a 3mid 1b or 2a 2mid 1b
de_inferno	3a 2b
de_cbble	2a 3b or 1a 4b
de_overpass	2a 3b or 3a 2b or 2a 1 connector 2b
de_mirage	2a 1mid 2b or 1a 1 short 1 window 1 connector 1b
de_train	2a 1 ivy 2b or 1a 2ivy 2b

These, if a specific set strategy is not being executed by the counter-terrorists, are the basic counter-terrorist setups on each competitive map (minus de_nuke). For example, counter-terrorists will often push aggressively down banana on de_inferno with 3 players. 

Example - de_mirage

"A smokes" on de_mirage are a fairly common strategy and is a key fundamental to playing this map in matchmaking, or third party pug providers. This is the usual default which is ran on de_mirage shown illustratively:

Image courtesy of: CSGOboard.com

As you can see, the counter-terrorists are running a 2b 1mid 2a setup. With purple being ready to assist green or yellow if need be. With orange being ready to assist blue. Blue could assist connector, but that would leave the team prone to an "a smokes" execution. This is what happens to this setup on an "a smokes" execution:

Image Courtesy of: CSGOboard.com

Often, the mid player leaves the window position, and either clears underpass and goes connector to stairs area, or they go straight to jungle, and often push through the smoke onto the benches area to assist blue and orange in the battle of a site. Purple will either go through connector to help once the smokes fade, or will push all the way through T spawn and go for the large flank to catch off the terrorists who will often play after plant positions at ramp, or palace.  Yellow will often anchor on the B site until the bomb is spotted.

It's worth noting, although not demonstrated illustratively, that yellow may decide to push into b apartments, and sniff out any information regarding a potential fake. I will provide a good fake strategy that can be used in your team games, or even in a pug (if you're prepared to explain to them). 

Image Courtesy of: CSGOboard.com

The fake strategy explained

This fake is probably best executed when the counter-terrorists are not really playing the 3 towards mid default. 

Initially, you gain map control around the map, with your two players towards B making sure no counter-terrorists are pushing towards top mid, underpass and b apartments. You can have one of the A players in palace initially ensuring no information push is being undertaken. After approximately 55 seconds or so of the round, a smokes should be thrown, accompanied by a few flashes, this is the first optional part of the strategy, essentially sacrifice green to sell the fake a little more, or hoping he can use the flashes to get an entry frag onto the A-site. At this point the players keeping post in B apartments, should be listening for the rotation of a counter-terrorist and time their push onto the site to encounter either a 2v1 on the B anchor player, or take the site for free. 

Then you want at least two of the players from A running away from A, and one to go towards middle, and one towards B, this b player should take post in B apps for the after plant. The middle player doesn't have to peak mid to window (although be aware, a player may believe the attack is coming onto bombsite a, and attempt a big flank), and can just hold the rotation of at least one player who will more than likely come catwalk, whom does not usually clear top mid and get a free shot in the back on this player. This player can then choose to go back through B apps, and kill the potential player who could be coming from underpass, or run down short and try and guard the site. This is completely contextual, and depends on whom if any on your team has died. 

If by some miracle, the player you 'sacrificed' on the fake survives, his role is to ultimately either kill players attempting to save, or to flank kitchen and get a kill or two in the back.

Conclusion

"A smokes" is a basic, but powerful execution that can be executed onto the A site. However, if 10/15 rounds you do A smokes and execute onto the A site this can be predictable. Therefore incorporating fakes into your game is a vital part of securing as many terrorist rounds as possible. Make yourself unpredictable and ensure rotations for your fakes are as quick as possible from the counter-terrorists, and when you execute, as slow as possible from the counter-terrorists by getting into the head of the opponent. Example, in the first buy round of the terrorist half, execute this fake. But then in a later buy round, do this execute without the fakes, and the rotations will be a lot slower because the opponent is attempting to read you.

Stay vigilant and I hope I have assisted in providing knowledge that can be applied to other maps.

Get your own AKRacing Chair here and support our players, all profit goes towards the teams!