“Checkmate!”

Don’t worry if you are not familiar with the game of chess, because what this series conveys is the mind game and psychology of chess as well as the philosophy of the many different formations (or variations) and how they can be applied in the game of counter strike in strategy calling, team and individual mindsets, as well as clutch-play.

Counter-Strike, like chess, is more than just the taking of opponent’s pieces (taking down the offense or defense), reading the situations (in-game communication), and experience.

Although these attributes are key essentials to being relatively ‘good’ at the game, what takes some teams and/or individuals over others to the next level is the use of mind games as well as understanding the philosophy behind the different variations and openings (Offensive and Defensive setups).

This series is not just aimed at amateur and intermediate Counter-Strike teams. In fact, this article specifically aims at higher-tier teams that are in the ‘Invite’ levels. These teams often display talented players and outstanding communication, their individual thinking and team play reflects experience and excellent game sense. However, as explained earlier, that is insufficient; most of these teams have strategies that only mimic the shadows of smart-playing. Their game lacks awareness in the psychology and philosophy of thinking smart.

Then again, this series is not only opinion-based but also completely subjective. It simply amplifies the relations between counter-strike and chess, but does not provide proof and factual evidence. All in all, it is just another perspective we can use when playing the game.

With all that set aside, it is time to explain what to expect from this journey. This series consists of an uncertain number of sections, as time goes by, ideas form and my fingers type. The sections are neither ordered in relations of importance nor chronologically ordered. They are all just faculties within themselves that contribute to the whole picture. What I can reveal however, are the current topics that are actively involved in my head and in this series.

Below are some of these topics, with a little description as a teaser.

 The Ultimate Weapon - ‘Predicting’ Part 1 – … the ability to predict is a powerful weapon that more than often will determine the outcome of the game…

 Mind Sets: Offense is the Best Defense – You start off with the leet krew model. Are you now the offense or the defense? Think carefully before you answer this...

 The Art of Probability – Probability is an art, like other aesthetics it does not provide answers but simply an image or map that allows it to be analyzed and acted upon…

 Mind Sets: The map is the chessboard – In a game of chess there are 64 squares to play yet infinite numbers of moves. In a game of Counter-Strike there are infinite squares to play, what then is your next move?

 Mind Sets: You’re an enemy to yourself – …your opponent didn’t defeat you, you defeated yourself…

 Mind Sets: Estimation–They say dont underestimate your enemy? I say don't overestimate them!

 Openings & Variations – The opening move in chess determines your style of play, the pistol round in counter-strike determines your opponents mind set of your style of play… manipulate them to think what you want them to think…

 The Ultimate Weapon - ‘Predicting’ Part 2 – Back to step one! Time to upgrade our weapon with everything we now know.

With such a wide topic scope, a lot of material will be left out. Teams or players that wish to learn more, or feel that I can be of some use in training/speaking to the team, feel free to contact me through email: mlau@connect.carleton.ca or find me in #gotfrag
If you want to play a game of chess with me, you can also find me through the methods mentioned above.