Hold this position: a guide on defending in CS:GO

We all know that CS:GO is based on the simple principle of attackers versus defenders. However, we might not all be aware of the tips and tricks that will make you a better defender, and that very topic is what this article will discuss. It is also my second article, and while it is not a follow-up on my previous article, the two will still have quite a few things in common, so I would suggest for you to read my previous one as well.

Staying Unpredictable
While my article will discuss several ways of playing as a defender, the most important thing you can ever do is making sure that the attacking team does not expect your position or behaviour. While I will split up defending into three different kinds, making sure that you change around your position and your style during a game can be the difference between winning and losing. You will be the defender for at least 15 rounds, if you exclude retakes while playing T, and that is a lot of time for your opponent to figure you out of you keep doing the same thing over and over.

Sometimes, thinking outside the box and being unorthodox can mean you catch your opponent by surprise, and surprising is good. Whether you're an aggressive player or you're the kind that would rather sit back and aim, you might want to try out the other kinds of defending just to make sure that you're still the one with the upper hand.

Death is not necessary
It's pretty simple, but it is still overlooked by a lot of players. Just because you're the defender, you don't have to stand and fight until your very last breath. In many cases, retreating and regrouping with the rest of your team is the better idea. You also want to remember that when playing as CT, going 1 for 1 is never the best outcome. Trading 2 for 1 or 3 for 2 is acceptable as CT, as it will put the rest of your team at a man advantage when trying to retake a site, which will make it a lot easier.

When defending as a T during a retake, it might be worth backing off as well – as your only goal is to stop the defuse and ensure that the bomb goes off. All in all, retreating when you're being overwhelmed by the enemy team is usually the better option, and having that in the back of your mind will eventually ensure that it's something you do by default. With this in mind, let us take a look at the various styles of defending.

 

The angle

Pros:
- Safe
- Easy to reposition/retreat
- Extremely strong with good aim

Cons:
- Provides low/medium information
- Very exposed to pre-firing

This is the standard way of holding a defensive position in CS:GO. Standing at a static or semi-static position and keeping your aim at a corner, waiting for the opponent to pop out. Most maps have a lot of good or decent positions to hold from an angle, and if you combine your angle with the angle of a teammate you will make a crossfire that can be extremely effective, provided that the opponent actually shows up.

The most important thing for you to think about when holding an angle is whether or not your back and sides are safe, having to constantly check several angles at once defeats the main purpose of the angler – getting the first shot. Secondly, you need to look at what possible escape routes you can use if you end up being overwhelmed by the enemy team, giving you an opportunity to retreat and regroup for a retake. If you favour the snipers, this will most likely be your best option by far.

 

The hide'n'pop

Pros:
- Medium risk with potential high reward
- Solid during eco rounds

Cons:
- Low/medium information
- If caught – the round is practically wasted
- Non-repeatable (or rarely)

Like the name suggests, this is the “cheesy” strategy as a defender, hiding in a corner and trying to stay unnoticed until the opposing team is exposed and then take as many out as possible before they can retaliate. Now this strategy does not work all that well if you are defending during an attempted retake, but as a CT this can turn out quite well if you do not use it too often and you do not hide in the same place over and over. This is also the way to pull off one of those amusing ninja-defuses during eco rounds, but it can be quite effective during buy-rounds as well.

 

The aggression

Pros:
- High risk/high reward
- Opens up options depending on what you encounter
- Gives a massive amount of information

Cons:
- If you die, you put your team at a huge disadvantage
- Weak against teams that play for entry-frags.

Aggroing is a completely legitimate strategy, even as a defender. Not only can you catch your enemy with their grenades out trying to set up their round, but you can also end up receiving a lot of information for your team if the enemy does not appear where you rush. There are a few options when you aggro as well – you can go full on, not stopping until you run into the enemy, which can lead to taking them out from behind and if not, give your team a whole lot of information. You can also decide to aggro out, and put yourself in a position far out of the site, one that your enemy might not expect if they decide to rotate. Thirdly, you can rush out for some information or a quick kill and then retreat back into a safer position, which is usually the best and safest option.

In the end, how you defend depends on your personal style and on what kind of plays the enemy is making. Trying to understand the way your opponent in playing and then adapting to it will allow you to win a lot more rounds and even defeat opponents that should be better than you. My hope for this article is to get you thinking whenever you are playing a defensive role – what are you doing and how will that work out against what your enemy is doing? This is the end of this article and in the next one we will swap things around and look at general tips for playing as the attacker.