Basics of Counter-Strike: Source
This guide will help you with everything you should know while playing Counter-Strike. If you read this, you will become a better player and gain respect from others.
Common Knowledge
Basic Rules for Every Server
Respect ALL players you encounter! Disrespect in most servers will not be tolerated. Besides, you want to try to make a good impression of yourself to gain the respect you desire. Saying things like "PWNED" or "you suck" won't do anything but make others dislike you and will probably make you a target for revenge on your remark. Just try to hold in all your negative comments or simply add "lol" to the end of it. Since "lol" makes every nasty comment okay. =D
Don't Cheat/Hack
Nobody likes a cheater! Especially when the other players have worked so hard to be a truly skilled player and made their way up the ranks. Cheaters get no respect at all and will most likely get banned from a specific server. Also, there's the possibility of getting VAC banned and not being able to join any secure servers. VAC doesn't make any mistakes in bans, therefore VAC bans are irreversable and will cause you to either quit playing or wasting money on another Steam account.
Do the Objective
Each map has a specific objective, make sure to make it your main priority! Your number one strategy will always be to win the round. If you're the last person alive on your team, don't camp and wait for the enemy to come to you (unless you're camping hostages as a terrorist). Nobody likes to wait for somebody to be killed by a camper but if you're on your way to the objective, they will have nothing to say.
Server Tick Rates
Changing Your Rates
All servers have a designated tick rate for their servers and usually varies between servers. The most popular tick rates are 66 and 100. Servers sometimes post their rates in the sever title. I will list a few console commands that will help your gameplay performance a little better.
You must enable the console in your options by clicking: Options > Keyboard (Tab) > Advanced... > check "Enable developer console (~)" (as seen in the screenshot below)
Assuming the server is running a 66 tick server, to change your rates, open your console (~) and type:
rate 30000, cl_updaterate 66, cl_cmdrate 66
The "rate" for most servers is usually between 25000-30000(+), it's the "cl_updaterate" and "cl_cmdrate" that you might have to change.
You can check the server tick rates by going to console while you're in a server and typing "cl_updaterate" by itself (with no value) and/or "cl_cmdrate" by itself (with no value).
Basic Techniques
Learning The Maps
Learn your favorite map(s)! If you learn a map and where the spawns are, you won't have much trouble knowing where you need to go. Learn the routes and where other players like to camp. Looking in a certain area where somebody killed you before only takes a millisecond and will probably save your life. Always check around the corner!
Another useful tip is to never rush into an area if you're not sure how many enemies there are. You might be able to get one but there might be another enemy ready to take you out. Take your time when you walk into an area where you can't see everybody that might be there.
Don't take the same route every round. Try to keep your enemy guessing because if you don't, they will soon figure out your strategy and counter it with a specific strategy to kill you. Maybe go the same way 2-3 times but after that, choose a different path and repeat.
Shooting Help
Spraying at your enemy is only good when they're close to you. If you do decide to spray, start from the head and pull your crosshair down to their knees or the ground right below their feet (depending on how close you are). The recoil for most automatic weapons usually tend to pull upwards.
At long range with automatic weapons, it will always be smart to take aim before you shoot and once you shoot, change your position, don't stand in one spot. Burst-fire is key when it comes to long range with automatic weapons. Getting a good aim and taking 1-3 burst-fire shots at your target will assure you victory (unless the enemy is better of course).
Aiming for the head is always the best way to go. If you can get your crosshair between the eyes of your enemy, don't hesitate to take the shot. Aiming for the head is no easy task, it takes precision and focus to do it accurately.
If you plan on using a pistol, the desert eagle (deagle) is probably your best option. It has one-hit headshots and pretty good body damaga as well. Most players tend to rapidly fire the deagle which isn't good. You only have 7 shots, so take it easy on the trigger. It will greatly increase your accuracy if you pause for about 0.5 seconds after each shot. If you want more accuracy with less damage, the P228 is an extremely accurate weapon.
Watching Your Radar
Your radar is there for a reason. If you continue to keep glancing at it while running through a map, sometimes your enemy will show up allowing you to know where they are. This happens when one of your teammates spots an enemy. Just be sure to keep an eye on your radar. Especially if you hear gunfire close by.
Headphones and Footsteps
Having a good set of headphones will always help you become a better player. Regular headphones won't work, you need headphones with good sound quality. If you have headphones, you can listen for certain sounds such as footsteps and gunfire. Being able to hear footsteps or gunfire will allow you to know where you need to look to kill the closest enemy. Something you might want to keep in mind is that this technique only works if your enemy is running, if they're walking, you won't be able to here them coming.
