Now, with the foundation laid out, it is time to advance onto the more profound issue of how the sub-categories of Board, Mind and Time are played out under Tactics and Strategy.

Strategy - overview

Before the start of any game, whether it be a game of chess or a game of Counter-Strike, we often have certain goals or mindsets on how the game would be played as an individual and/or as a group. Are you going to play ‘your game’? Or are you going to play an ‘anti-opponent’ game? Is the team going or play a passive format? An aggressive format? Or both? Maybe you’ll play one or the other depending on certain situations – but what kind of situations?

The point is, we always have some sort of mindset made before a game whether it was made consciously or unconsciously. However, as discussed in my previous issue about probability and awareness – to have a better awareness allows a better analysis of situations. To have a mindset made consciously would be a betterment to the individual's and/or the group’s ability to win a game.

Strategy – mind playing

The game of psychology plays a huge factor in the outcome of the overall game. Do we plan on intimidating the opponent psychologically to ensure that we empower and overwhelm them? Or, do we plan on luring them to make them feel they’re intimidating you, so you can later nit pick on their mistakes and launch a final attack to completely psychologically wreck their state of mind? Maybe you want to play the game of prediction – that is to predict what the opponent would not do and pressure them into doing it. It is, once again, another form of psychological intimidation. Whichever you choose, it helps to be aware of your choice as it allows you to be versatile with your tactics.

In Counter-Strike many teams actually adopt a mind play of empowerment. Teams like to “talk-smack” as a way to psychologically weaken the opponent. This oddly enough is a factor in the game – using it wisely can make it a huge factor in determining the outcome. Too little of a psychological offense results in enragement of the opponent, making them try much harder to defeat you. Too much and it pressures you and your team into performing to the standards you’ve set. But just the right amount can cause your opponent to question their motives and tactics.

Let us first introduce a rather popular fable that many of our parents would story-tell to us when we were children: The boy that cries “wolf!”

“A Shepherd-boy, who watched a flock of sheep near a village, brought out the villagers three or four times by crying out, "Wolf! Wolf!" and when his neighbors came to help him, laughed at them for their pains. The Wolf, however, did truly come at last. The Shepherd-boy, now really alarmed, shouted in an agony of terror: "Pray, do come and help me; the Wolf is killing the sheep"; but no one paid any heed to his cries, nor rendered any assistance. The Wolf, having no cause of fear, at his leisure lacerated or destroyed the whole flock.”

Now we all know the moral of the story: When a liar told a truth, it would not be believed

However, what we do not know is that this same story can be used as a form of mind play empowerment. Attack site B once and you win. Attack B again and you win again. Attack B right after and the opponent already got the hang of it so they win the round. What if you attack B the fourth time right after you lost the previous round? You are inevitably playing with the mind of the opponent; they begin to think about your motives and theirs – that is when you launch an alternative attack to really put them into place.

Likewise, the same effect can be achieved by the method of isolation. By isolating a certain player or an area whether by constantly bombarding that player or area with firepower or simply by leaving that player or area completely unscathed can lead to psychological intimidation as well. Targeting a specific player can impact that player’s mentality till the end of the game. If I were to target a specific spot on a chess board, constantly battling for possession and focusing my bishop similarly to snipers from long range – the opponent would also start to focus a lot on that area as well which then leaves their mind closed to other things going on around them.

Keeping the opponent’s mind thinking and running is the key to success. Do not allow them to have a moment of silence to think of counter attacks. As the opponent continues to ponder your motives, they are actually chasing your thoughts. And as a chaser it means they’re always a step behind.

To push an opponent back one step means you’ve pulled yourself a step up.

Being aware of the mind play you and your teammates are to use on the opponent allows a much more versatile set of tactics as well as a more uniform way of communication.