Advanced CS 1.6 Map Strategies: Dominate Any Map

🎯 The Five Pillars of Map Strategy

1. Map Control = Information = Advantages

Controlling areas of the map gives you information about enemy positions. Information lets you make better decisions. Every map has “key control points” – control these and you control the round.

2. Timing Windows

Every map has predictable timing. How long does it take to rush B? When do rotations arrive? Understanding timing lets you execute before enemies can react.

3. Crossfire Positions

Two players holding angles that cross = enemy can’t peek both simultaneously. This principle works on every single map.

4. Default Setups

Every map has “standard” positions for CT defense and T default spreads. Learn these first, then adapt.

5. Utility Usage

Smokes, flashes, HE nades – using them correctly can take/retake any site on any map. Knowing WHERE to throw is map-specific, but the CONCEPTS are universal.

💡 Strategic Mindset

Think like this:

• As T: “What information do I need? What map control should I fight for? Where are the weak points?”
• As CT: “What information am I denying? Where can I delay the push? When should I rotate?”

Bad players: Run to random spots, hope for kills

Good players: Play positions purposefully, gather info, make decisions

My 2010 revelation: I stopped asking “where should I go?” and started asking “what information does my team need?” Win rate jumped 15%.

🗺️ Every Map Has Three Zones

Zone 1: Safe Zones (Spawns)

• T spawn, CT spawn
• Completely safe at round start
• No information value

Zone 2: Contested Zones (Middle/Connectors)

• Middle on Dust2, Banana on Inferno, Yard on Nuke
• Both teams can access early
• Highest information value
• Fighting for these determines round flow

Zone 3: Objectives (Bombsites)

• A site, B site
• Final destinations
• CT must defend, T must take

Winning strategy: Control Zone 2 (contested areas), which gives you info to attack Zone 3 (sites) effectively.

🎯 Universal Key Locations

Every competitive CS 1.6 map has:

1. A “Middle” Area

• Connects multiple parts of the map
• Controlling mid = controlling rotation paths
• Examples: Mid on Dust2, Upper/Lower on Nuke, Connector on Mirage

2. Choke Points

• Narrow passages T’s must push through
• Easy to hold, hard to push
• Examples: Banana (Inferno), B tunnels (Dust2), Squeaky (Nuke)

3. Rotation Paths

• How CT’s move between sites
• Understanding these lets you time fakes/splits
• Fast rotations (Mid) vs slow rotations (around edges)

4. Power Positions

• Spots that are hard to clear
• Good angles, multiple escape routes
• Examples: Pit (Dust2 A), Headshot box (Dust2 A), Tetris (Mirage)

🎯 T Side Advanced Tactics

The “Mid-to-B Split”

1. 2 players control Mid (kill CT Mid)
2. Smoke CT spawn from Mid
3. 2 players push B tunnels
4. On execute: Mid players window drop to B, tunnels players push
5. CT’s in panic – B player watching tunnels gets shot from window

Why it works: CT B can’t watch two angles at once. Split attacks are devastating.

The “Long Fake, Cat Execute”

1. 3 players go Long A, make noise (shoot, flash, footsteps)
2. 2 players quietly control Cat
3. CT rotates 2 players to A from B (hears Long pressure)
4. 5 T’s execute A from Cat/Short
5. Only 1-2 CT’s on A now

Timing: Execute when you hear CT footsteps rotating (30-40 seconds into round).

The “Default Spread for Picks”

• 1 Long, 1 Cat, 2 Mid, 1 B tunnels
• Everyone holds positions, watches for picks
• First pick = execute that site
• No pick by 1:00 = execute weakest site

Why it works: Flexible, reactive, doesn’t commit early.

🛡️ CT Side Advanced Setups

The “Aggressive B Setup”

• 1 CT pushes through tunnels to T spawn (info)
• 1 CT holds tunnel exit from site
• If push succeeds: Gets info on T positions, delays B rush
• If dies: Teammate knows “B rush coming”

Risk/Reward: High risk, high information gain.

The “Cat Control Defense”

• 1 CT holds Cat from A site (goose/default)
• 1 CT holds Long from A (pit/corner)
• 1 CT plays Mid (watching Cat exit)
• Crossfire on Cat – T can’t push without getting destroyed

Weakness: Vulnerable to Long rushes. Requires good communication.

The “2-1-2 Rotate Ready”

• 2 A, 1 Mid, 2 B
• Mid player has fastest rotation to either site
• On execute, Mid rotates immediately
• Makes retakes 3v4 or 3v5 instead of 2v5

🔥 Understanding Inferno’s Design

Inferno is unique:

• Very CT-sided (narrow chokes favor defenders)
• Limited mid control (no true “middle”)
• Banana is THE key area
• Apartments = slow, methodical clearing

T side is HARD on Inferno. Average T rounds won: 5-6 out of 15. CT side: 9-10.

💣 Breaking Inferno as T

Banana Control is Everything

If you don’t control Banana, you can’t take B. Period.

How to take Banana:

1. Smoke CT sandbags (blocks AWP)
2. Smoke car (blocks site player)
3. Flash over wall (blinds defenders)
4. 2-3 T’s push together
5. Establish control at sandbags/logs
6. Hold for 20-30 seconds

Then either:

• Execute B (you control Banana already)
• Fake B, rush A through Apartments (CT’s rotated to B)

The Apartment Execute

1. Clear Apartments methodically (don’t rush)
2. Smoke balcony (blocks CT porch)
3. Flash over balcony onto site
4. 2 players balcony, 1 boiler, 1 arch
5. Plant safe spot (behind boxes)

Timing: Apartments execute takes 40+ seconds. Start early.

The “Both Sides Pressure”

• 2 Banana, 3 Apartments
• Both groups make noise, throw utility
• CT doesn’t know which is fake
• Execute whichever side gets opening kill

🛡️ Holding Inferno as CT

Banana Defense

Standard setup:

• 1 AWP at CT sandbags (long range)
• 1 Rifle at car/logs (trade kill)
• Molotov/HE nades to slow push

Key principle: Don’t die early. Delay T’s as long as possible. Your job isn’t to stop them – it’s to slow them and call info.

A Site Defense

• 1 Arch/Graveyard (watching Apartments)
• 1 Balcony/Porch (crossfire with Arch)
• Listen for Apartment footsteps
• Flash/molotov Apartments entrance

Don’t over-rotate on Inferno! T’s can fake easily. Wait for bomb confirmation.

☢️ Nuke’s Complexity

What makes Nuke special:

• TWO LEVELS (upper/lower bombsites)
• Sound is confusing (footsteps above/below)
• CT-sided (hardest T side in CS 1.6)
• Yard control = everything
• Long rotation times between sites

Average round wins: CT 11-12, T 3-4. Getting 5 T rounds is amazing.

💣 Attacking Nuke (Extremely Hard)

Yard Control = Win Condition

You CANNOT take either site without Yard control. CT’s have silo, heaven, garage – all watching Yard.

Taking Outside/Yard:

1. Smoke silo (blocks AWP)
2. Smoke heaven (blocks rafters)
3. Flash squeaky door area
4. 3-4 T’s push together
5. Clear garage, secret, hut
6. Establish presence

Outside A Execute:

• Control Yard first (above)
• Smoke hell (blocks site defender)
• Flash onto site
• Enter from hut AND heaven (two angles)
• Plant safe (rafters corner or heaven plant)

Lower B Rush (Desperate Strategy):

• 5 man rush squeaky → down ramp
• Flash multiple times
• Overwhelming numbers
• Plant quick, hold doors

Success rate: ~40%. High risk, but sometimes necessary.

The Secret Crawl:

• 2 T’s go Yard → Secret
• Quietly drop to lower B
• 3 T’s make noise outside/lobby
• Secret players flank CT’s holding upper

Timing: Mid-round (30 seconds), when CT’s are focused outside.

🛡️ Defending Nuke (Easier)

Standard 3-2 Setup:

• 3 Outside (1 silo, 1 heaven, 1 yard/garage)
• 2 Inside (1 ramp, 1 B site)
• Rotate from inside when outside is pressured

Outside Hold:

• AWP in silo (long range, safe)
• Rifle heaven (watching yard/hut)
• Rifle garage/secret (aggressive info)

The key: Delay outside as long as possible. Make T’s use all utility. When they finally take Yard, you’ve wasted 60+ seconds.

Lower B Defense:

• 1 player ramp (watching squeaky)
• Listen for footsteps on ramp
• Call immediately – fast rotation needed
• Molotov/nade down ramp delays push

Retaking on Nuke: Very hard. Try to prevent plant. If planted, smoke + flash retake. Lower B retakes are nearly impossible.

🚂 Train’s Characteristics

Why Train is special:

• Heavy utility dependence (smokes essential)
• Multiple angles on every site
• Ladder room connects everything
• Trains provide cover AND sightline blockers
• Relatively balanced (6-9 T rounds is good)

Key areas:

• Ladder room (connector between A/B)
• Ivy (A approach)
• T connector/Popdog (B approach)
• Electric (information point)

💣 Taking Train as T

The Ivy A Execute:

1. Smoke bomb train (blocks sandwich/site view)
2. Smoke electric (blocks rotation)
3. Flash over trains onto site
4. 3 T’s enter from Ivy
5. 1 T watches connector flank
6. 1 T enters from ladder room (pinch)

Success factor: Smokes are ESSENTIAL. No smokes = no execute.

The Popdog B Split:

• 2 T’s take ladder room control
• 2 T’s push Popdog
• 1 T watches upper B
• On execute: Popdog + Ladder push together
• CT can’t watch both

The Default Info Gather:

• 1 Ivy (watching A)
• 2 Ladder room (watching connector)
• 1 Popdog (watching B)
• 1 Electric (info/connector)
• Wait for CT mistake or isolated player
• Execute based on opening

🛡️ Defending Train

A Site Setup:

• 1 Sandwich/Bomb train (default position)
• 1 Electric/Connector (info + rotation)
• Can fall back to site or rotate to B

B Site Setup:

• 1 Back of site/Upper (watching Popdog)
• 1 Lower B/Ladder (watching connector)
• Crossfire on B approaches

The 2-1-2 Balance:

• 2 A, 1 Mid/Electric, 2 B
• Electric player is pivot
• Can support either site in 5 seconds

Key principle: Don’t over-commit. Train sites are hard to retake. Play trades, stay alive, delay.

📚 5-Step Map Learning Process

Step 1: Walk the Map Empty (10 minutes)

• Create offline server
• Walk from T spawn to both sites
• Walk from CT spawn to both sites
• Identify: Where’s mid? What are choke points? Where are power positions?

Step 2: Learn Callouts (5 minutes)

• Google “[map name] callouts cs 1.6”
• Learn 10-15 essential callouts
• You can’t communicate without knowing names

Step 3: Watch One Pro Demo (15 minutes)

• Download pro demo of this map
• Watch T side: Where do they go? What’s their default?
• Watch CT side: Where do they hold? How do they rotate?
• Copy their basic positions

Step 4: Play Deathmatch (20 minutes)

• Join DM server on this map
• Learn angles by dying to them
• Every death = “oh, someone can stand THERE”
• Build muscle memory for common spots

Step 5: Play Real Matches (2-3 games)

• Apply what you learned
• Make mistakes, learn from them
• After 3 games, you’ll understand 70% of the map

Total time to competency: ~1 hour of focused learning + 2-3 real games.

❓ The Strategic Checklist

For ANY new map, answer these:

As T:

1. Where’s middle? Can I control it?
2. What are the main choke points to each site?
3. Which site is easier to take?
4. Where can I default/gather info safely?
5. What utility (smokes/flashes) is essential?

As CT:

1. Where do I spawn relative to sites?
2. Which site am I responsible for?
3. Where can I hold with cover/escape route?
4. When do I rotate? (bomb seen? bomb sound? teammate dies?)
5. Where’s the retake position if site is taken?

Answer these 10 questions and you understand the map strategically.