The Refinery: Engaging Enemy Players

Few things in Counter-Strike are more frustrating than being shot while off guard or out of position. Many times, a player (no matter what their skill level) will get killed because they recklessly overextended or because they simply were not paying attention. Maintaining focus and playing smart are the keys to success in any competitive event and refining these core concepts will place you at an advantage and leave you standing tall.

 

General Crosshair Placement:

Crosshair placement is a huge factor in determining the outcome of an engagement. There are two key components to good crosshair placement, always having your crosshair locked on at head height, and always having your crosshair located somewhere relevant to the flow of the game. Many in-game objects match the head height of player models and can be used to indicate where to place your crosshair. To keep your placement relevant, make sure your crosshair is set to immediately engage an enemy should they appear. For example, if you are put into a situation where you have to hold multiple angles at once, do not point your crosshair in between angles so you can “watch every opening at once”. Instead, snap your crosshair from angle to angle so you are always ready to engage. The less time you spend relocating your crosshair, the more time you have to react and shoot.

 
 [Objects indicating head height]

Peeking:

Generally when peeking around corners, try to put as much distance as possible between you and the wall/structure facing you. If you strafe out to peek from hugging a wall, you will be exposed to multiple angles at once, putting you more at risk than what is necessary; however, close peeking works relatively well if you or a teammate is able to throw a quick flash before strafing out. In most cases, staying as far away from the wall and swinging out wide would be ideal as it allows you to check one angle at a time. On top of this, shoulder peeking (quickly stepping in and out from behind a wall while exposing yourself as little as possible) is a great way to bait out shots from the enemy, informing your team on enemy positions as well as offering you an opportunity to engage in between shots. Finally, never turn a corner with your knife or grenades out if you are pushing into uncontrolled territory. Always peek with a gun in hand.

 
[Angles exposed to while close peeking short (in red)]

[Angles exposed to while wide peeking short (in red)]

Clearing Angles:

The most common mistake made when clearing angles is by doing so lazily. Lazy angle clearing refers to when a player half-heartedly scouts out a portion of the map either by not snapping their crosshairs on to each angle as they pass, or by leaving certain spots ignored completely. When you push into uncontrolled territory, fully commit to checking each angle properly as this will save you much grief from hidden enemy players. Pre-aiming a specific angle while pushing should also be avoided, as an enemy could be positioned elsewhere. Always make sure your sights are locked on to the first angle you are approaching and adjust accordingly so that your crosshair placement will remain relevant and you will be able to instantly fire upon spotting an enemy player. 

 

Holding Angles:

When holding an angle, place your crosshair a certain distance from the corner according to your own reaction time. Often times a player will hold an angle as tight as possible only to react (and miss) a second after an enemy player has passed through. By adjusting to your own reaction time, you will be able to allow enemy players to walk right into your crosshair. By pairing this with pre-aiming at head level, this will allow you to easily pick off one or two pushing players. If you are being engaged by an enemy player while holding an angle and your initial shots miss, try not to re-peek from the same position. Instead, constantly switch positions between each burst and peek from different angles. This will keep the enemy from pre-aiming your position and force them to react to your movements.

[Holding long doors at headshot height with proper spacing between door and crosshair]

Happy fragging!

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