How Not to Be a Noob in CS:GO

Many Counter-Strike “veterans” are sometimes overcome by waves of nostalgia for the good old days. So if you’ve decided to return to the matches and sit down to play De Dust 2, first go over the basics and refresh your memory of the game’s details. A useful CS:GO guide for beginner players will come in handy.

Choosing Your Equipment

You don’t need an extremely powerful system to play Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, but it’s best to pay attention to your hardware to create the most comfortable conditions. A graphics card such as a GeForce GTX 1050 could be a good option.

GeForce Experience will not only provide a stable frame rate, but also optimize your settings. You’ll also be able to stream on Twitch and other platforms without compromising performance.

Still, get components with some headroom if possible, since you can never have too much FPS. What’s more, such components will let you play other, more demanding games.

Configuring Your PC and Game

Remember one important rule: take care of the setup in advance. This applies to everything that needs and can be configured, even if you have a powerful computer. You can find a special guide on Steam. It contains information on optimizing your PC for an enjoyable time playing Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.

Basic setup recommendations:

• Change the screen resolution. Choose 4:3. This will make the skins a little bigger and shooting much more comfortable.
• Adjust your mouse sensitivity. Calibrate it so that your crosshair movements aren’t sluggish and are smooth, but don’t jerk or dart all over the screen either. Pay attention not only to mouse sensitivity, but also to the sensor’s high resolution. X7 is a great option for beginners.
• You can also adjust your crosshair: change its color, set the desired size, and even change its shape. Even these small details can make the game more comfortable.
• Don’t forget your headphones. With a good headset, you’ll hear gunfire, footsteps, and explosions better, and you’ll also be able to navigate the map more effectively.
The keyboard isn’t a top priority in this case, so a standard model will do for beginners.

Favorite Maps

Instead of trying to memorize all the maps at once, focus on one or two. In a couple of months, you’ll have time to learn retreat routes, find good positions, and plan alternative moves. De_Dust 2 is considered one of the best maps in the game. Many professional players point out how well-balanced it is. So you should play your first couple dozen games on it. After that, start exploring new maps and their locations.

More Practice

Practice and developing skills are essential in any activity and game, so your first few games may take a serious toll on your self-esteem.

Don’t get hung up on dying often, since that’s normal at first. If you want to become a real professional, you’ll have to spend a lot of time on popular servers and play with more experienced teammates and opponents.

At first, stick with someone from your team, since a more experienced player can show you by example how to navigate the map, how best to throw a grenade, or where to hide.

If you’re alone and there are at least two opponents, don’t try to win. The best tactic in that situation is to try to hide and keep your weapon until the next round.

Learning the Basics of Combat

CS:GO, like other games of this kind, has some simple rules that are best learned in your first few hours of play:

• Don’t shoot while running. You won’t be able to aim while moving, because everything will shake. Your accuracy will drop considerably. So during a firefight, try to find a decent position and only then open fire.
• Each weapon has its own ballistics and mechanics. Beginners should avoid using weapons with a lot of spread at first. It’s also best to save rifles for later. You need skill to use them effectively, so start with something simple. A good choice is the r90 rifle (or “rooster”), as well as the tec-9 pistol (“crowbar”).
• It’s better to aim for the head. Fire in short bursts. Strafing will help with this, as you move sideways in side-steps.
• It’s best to take cover while reloading. When your magazine is empty, get out of the line of fire. Otherwise, you’ll easily become a great and easy target.
• You don’t have to throw a grenade directly at your opponent. You can throw it at a wall so it ricochets and reaches the enemy.

Don’t Take Insults Seriously

Initially, voice chat was introduced so that players in multiplayer games could discuss strategies. However, these days you can often hear more than a few rather uncultured remarks. This happens in every esports game, including Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. If you notice that you tend to swear, try to collect your thoughts and emotions instead, and help your teammates.

To communicate effectively, try to learn the in-game slang and then remember it. It’s universal, so any player will understand you.