Outside of an Ace round, the most devastating outcome of an individual round for a defensive team can be the use of a fake-out strategy. Not only will the defensive team lose if properly run, it can also weaken the moral and teamwork of even the best teams. There’s nothing more demoralizing then running across the map to support a teammate only to find the opposition planting in the bombsite you once occupied.

How to effectively accomplish this is debated, but one key remains no matter what map or situation you are in; it’s all about timing. 30 seconds too soon or 10 seconds too late, it doesn’t matter – both will cost you a golden opportunity. Often moving one defensive player to the side by 30 steps to the right or left is all that is needed in order to effectively win, making time that much more critical.

To first understand the key to executing fake strategies, we have to know which ones exist. There are three basic fake strategies; pistol, save and a basic gun round. Each is different and unique. Understanding those differences can allow you to effectively call and recognize situations for them.

Pistol Rounds

The least commonly used of the three. Most professional teams are able to use fake strategies on teams they know well or have extensively scouted and studied prior to the game. There are two primary reasons for the lack of pistol round fakes. One, dividing forces on pistol rounds is very risky and two, it’s hard to enter a site with lesser numbers on a pistol round. You will have more success executing these fakes by looking for trends in your opponent’s individual players and then abusing them – giving you the small edge you need in order to score a pistol round fake.




Save Rounds

Save round fakes have become quite common with the recent addition of a $800 bonus for planting the bomb. Defenses have started to adapt, making these types of fakes that much harder to accomplish. However, a successful save round fake with a bomb plant can still turn a match around with the additional funds it provides. Often, one of the biggest advantages of attempting a fake on a save round is the uncertainty it creates among the minds of the defensive players, which can be abused later in the game.



Gun Rounds

The truly skilled strategists in the professional Counter-Strike scene setup gun round fakes through calls earlier in the match and correct understanding of their opposition’s money situation. The ability to do this on the fly is a skill not learned easily, but can be one of the most valued abilities a player or team can possess. Timing and precision are the keys to pulling these types of fakes off; and if done correctly they can really destroy the momentum of a defensive team.