First things first, you are going to have to make some modifications to your game to have it run very smoothly and give you the best chance for registering your shots. Before you even open up the game, go to your Steam>SteamApps>yoursteamname>counter-strike source>cstrike>cfg folder. Right click on the config.cfg file in this folder and make sure that it is NOT read only. This will enable you to save all changes you input into your console. While you are in the cfg folder, I suggest putting my file in your folder. There are a lot of changes this file will make to your gameplay including:

• Smoother gameplay/less lag
  
• Optimal rates
  
• Making blood more visible when you shoot someone
  
• Making bodies disappear after they are dead (helps you not give away position/wasting ammo by shooting dead bodies)
  
• Having all counter-terrorists/terrorists have default player models instead of one of 4 models. This helps you very quickly identify who is on your team and who isn't.
  

Download link to the cfg. file - http://www.file-upload.net/download-7037...c.cfg.html

Still before you open up Counter-Strike: Source, open Steam.exe. Click the 'My games' tab on the menu. You should see Counter-Strike: Source on your Installed list. Right click the game, and hit properties. Select 'Set Launch Options'. Type in "-console". This will enable your console to be active every time you launch your game. You can access console any time be hitting the ~ key. This is where you can change your rates/crosshair size/connect to servers/basically anything you need to adjust in the game can be altered via console. If your console still isn't coming up, please hit options-->keyboard-->advanced--> select enable developer console.

Also be sure that Fast Weapon Switch is enabled. Quick switch is absolutely vital to switch to the next weapon mid gun-fight. This is especially true with AWPing as you should always quick switch to get get out of your zoom rather than take the time to zoom/re-zoom etc. You will always see top players utilize this method for quick switching.
Rates
This is very important to playing well in servers. If you didn't choose to use my autoexec.cfg, you will want to make sure you have the right rates entered into your console so that you can have better shot registry/less lag. OCN Member Big Val has already compiled a Rate Guide that contains everything you need to input into your console if you would like to read more in depth about rates. The most important rates to make sure you have in console are:

• rate 30000
  
• cl_updaterate 67*
  
• cl_cmdrate 67*
  

*Updated for newest CSS updates



I strongly suggest downloading CPL Mousefix that disables your mouse acceleration. It has been confirmed working for all versions of XP, Vista, Windows 7. I have also attached it to this guide. This will have your aim be much more precise and help your aim be smooth and not 'jumpy'. I also suggest keeping your sensitivity as low as possible. In my case, I use a Logitech G5 which has 2000 DPI. I use a sensitivity of .8. If you do not know your DPI or have a different DPI setting, I suggest having a maximum sensitivity that enables you to do a 180 degree turn by dragging your mouse completely across your mouse pad while aiming.

• Controlling your shot: The first step in controlling your shot is having your cross hair at the correct position. When moving around the map, your cross hair should remain at head level, and be positioned exactly where your enemies heads will appear. This lessens the time you will have to spend aiming.
  

• Strafe-Stop-Shoot-Strafe technique: It is never good to stand still or run towards someone while in a gunfight. Learn to strafe out of a corner you are at, locate the enemy, burst your guns in 2-3 shots, and strafe back behind the wall. It is very important that you keep your reticule where the person was so that when you strafe again you will have almost instant aim when you repeak them. It is also vital that you do not get into a noticeable "strafe-peaking pattern" so that the enemy can time when to head shot you popping in and out. When you strafe to the left, push back to the right at the end of it to stop yourself dead on, and the same when you strafe to the right. If you'll notice when you strafe to the left and right, you will usually come to a stop, not just stop abruptly. This really helps when shooting as you have to be completely still to get off an accurate shot.
  

• You will want to have a smaller crosshair that is as small as you can have it while still being able to effectively see it. This helps you get one/two shot burst headshots a lot easier than having a bigger crosshair size. Of course, this will depend on your resolution that you play at. My resolution is 1920 x 1080 and my crosshair is at 1700. To change your crosshair size, type in console: cl_crosshairscale 1700 or whatever size you want.
  

At the beginning of every round, you will have the opportunity to purchase weapons. You will need to bring up your buy menu (default key: b) and continue to purchase your weapons. To be more efficient with pregame time, CS:S enables you to set buy presets that will purchase guns/extras without having to choose each item individually. This saves a lot of time pre-round. I suggest using the following buy presets as they are what I use and are very efficient. Choose the items I have listed, then re-enable your buy menu, and hit save next to the corresponding key. This will always be here for you to use and won't change unless you save over it.

Terrorist Buy Presets:
- S: Kevlar + Helmet (Make sure you don't have any weapons/grenades purchased when you set this)
- D: HE Grenade, Flashbang (x2), Smoke Grenade (Make sure you don't have Kevlar/Helmet on when you set this)
- F: AK47 (Make sure you don't have Grenades/Armor on when you set this)
- G: AWP (Make sure you don't have Grenades/Armor on when you set this)

Counter-Terrorist Buy Presets:
- S: Kevlar + Helmet, Defusal Kit (Make sure you don't have any weapons/grenades purchased when you set this)
- D: HE Grenade, Flashbang (x2), Smoke Grenade, Defusal Kit (Make sure you don't have Kevlar/Helmet on when you set this)
- F: M4, Defusal Kit (Make sure you don't have Grenades/Armor on when you set this)
- G: AWP, Defusal Kit (Make sure you don't have Grenades/Armor on when you set this)

The only thing you will have to manually select is a Desert Eagle if you have enough money to upgrade your pistol. Did you notice that every CT buy preset carries a defusal kit? That is because this might be one of the most important items a CT can carry. It greatly reduces the time it takes to disable the bomb. Which leads us into the basic game play objectives and tactics part of this guide.


So you now have your aim down from practicing in death match servers and want to now play the game the way it was meant to be played. Basic concepts of any DE_name map (Ex: De_Dust2) are that it is a bomb plant/defusal map and a CS_name map (Ex: CS_Italy) is a Hostage Rescue map. All competitive ladders use DE_maps for competitive play and you will not find a CS_ map as a part of this. Therefore, I will be mainly focusing on the bomb plant/defusal side of CS:S.

The main objectives for Terrorists are to either:
1. Kill off all CT's before the time runs out OR
2. Plant the bomb before the time runs out and guard it until it either blows up or all CT's are dead

The main objectives for Counter-Terrorists are to either:
1. Kill off all T's before they plant the bomb OR
2. Defuse the bomb after it is planted (T's can still be alive for this to happen) OR
3. Stay alive long enough for the time to run out without the bomb being planted. If the Terrorists do plant before the time runs out, you will have to defuse the bomb before it explodes to win the round.