It’s time to level up your CS:GO game with our CS:GO Improve Your Positioning guide.

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Despite the fact that CS: GO is pretty old at this point, the game has loads of new players. Some of them take the time to learn how to play by watching videos and streams, whereas others simply want to have fun. Regardless of which group you fall into, this CSGO guide is for you.

After going over every popular weapon and some things you should and shouldn’t do, it is time to focus on something vital. Good positioning in CS:GO is one of the few things that separates good from bad players. This is an essential skill you need to master if you want to become successful.

Some people simply copy other players’ positions without actually analyzing why the given player chose them. While it is true that there are traditional sports where you can go, every map has some specifics. We can’t go over everything, but this guide will try to provide you with some basic things you should know about positioning in CSGO.

Standard angles vs off angles

One of the common dilemmas of almost any CSGO player is whether to choose a standard angle or to surprise opponents by picking something strange. Each option works in different scenarios, so it is tough to point at one and say that it is better than the other. Having said that, if you are now in the game, it is better to use some standard angles.

By selecting such a position, you already have an advantage over your opponents because you should be able to shoot first. What’s more, most maps like Dust 2 allow you to shoot and hide immediately after that. There are cases where you can change your position and use things like Flashbang to surprise your opponents.

Pick angles where you can’t be killed from behind

Some standard places where CTs go to defend a given bombsite give them an advantage. However, some of them are way riskier because the opponents can kill them from behind. 

There are all sorts of examples here, such as the one on the B site on Dust 2 where CTs often stay near the big box. This allows them to keep an eye on the tunnel, but Ts can always come from the middle and land free kills. You can prevent this from happening if you have someone on your team keeping an eye on this location.

You need to be flexible and change positions 

One of the fundamentals of playing CS:GO is the fact that you have to be flexible and be able to adapt to changes. This is not one of the games where you can do the same thing and expect to achieve the same success. Good players will learn your movement pattern and kill your way easier than you expect.

To differentiate yourself from most players, you must know how to adapt to the situation. This means you must change your position when you are flashed or when your opponent uses Smokes. The same applies to situations where you are in a 1v1, 1v2, or 1v3. etc., situation. 

Try to peek and unpeek as much as possible

People who’ve watched a professional CS:GO match or some of the top-tier game events have heard of the peen-unpeek thingy. This is a very successful tactic in CSGO used by all sorts of players. As its name implies, it allows you to peek, fire at your enemies, and then unpeek and hide. 

Mastering this technique will definitely have a massive impact on your overall win rate. This is especially true if you start using it in the so-called off angles. The latter is a term that people use to describe a position that is usually in the open, where people don’t expect to find any opponents. In other words, this is one of the best places where you can go if you want to catch your opponents off guard.

Making the most of the off angles is not easy because they are risky. If your opponents are skilled, they might be able to take you down right away. What’s more, you can’t use a given off angle more than once because the Ts will expect you to be there afterward. That’s one of the reasons why most people prefer to use these positions when the game is almost over. 

Being unpredictable definitely helps

This tip is pretty general and can be used for all sorts of things, but it is imperative when it comes down to positioning in CS:GO. As mentioned earlier, you can’t really use a given position multiple times in the same game if you are playing against skilled opponents. Once they learn where you like to go, they will use utilities to counter you, and you won’t be able to do anything.

To prevent this from happening, you have to be innovative and switch your position as much as possible. There are maps that don’t really allow you to choose from loads of options, but always think out of the box, and you will come up with something. 

Team combinations

Many people who play CS:GO forget that this is a team-based game. If you play with friends or random people who want to win as much as you do, try to coordinate your positions to be as efficient as possible.

Aside from things like map boosts and other things,  you can defend a given bombsite from multiple angles that will trick your opponents. For example, if two people defend the B site on Dust 2, one of them can take one of the obvious spots, such as the one near the site. This will give the other player a considerable advantage because he can use the fact that the Ts are distracted and kill them from an interesting off angle.

The possibilities in CS:GO are endless, so make sure to watch as many videos of pro players because they often reveal priceless tips and tricks.