Frequently in Counter-Strike, you'll be put into an economic situation where you'll need to eco - this is a situation that's seen as a throw-away round where you spend as little as possible, so that you have enough money to buy what you want in the following rounds. Or you might need to force buy, where you'll buy whatever you can - usually this is armour, a pistol or a weaker rifle, and maybe some utility; just the best combination from what you can afford. This is frequently seen after a loss of the pistol round as a way to maintain a grasp on the early game by inflicting economic damage to the other team. While you would usually lose these rounds due to a disadvantage in equipment, there are a mixture of strategies you can use to increase your chances of success. Success in an eco round can be viewed in multiple ways:

1. You succeed by causing great damage to your enemy's economy, say, by killing a large proportion of their team and causing them to rebuy.

2. You succeed by getting a bomb plant on T-side, giving you a bonus going into the next round.

3. You succeed by actually winning the round!

So remember, success is not always winning. That said, you shouldn't approach these rounds expecting to lose - maintain a strong mental attitude and try to do the best you can. It's often said that while one side of Counter Strike is point-and-click, the other half is a mind game. I've named this guide Second Round Strategies as these are 'wildcards' - you can't rely on them all the time to guarantee any form of success in a round, and thus I'd be more inclined to use them on the second round of a half if you lost the pistol round, rather than in a tight live-or-die situation. Teams often force buy here, looking to hinder early economy build-up for the enemy team, and these ideas provide a good platform for doing so.

The main idea you'll want to follow is the concept of strength in numbers.

When in a situation where you have less powerful weaponry than your opponents, it's a good idea to engage an enemy with multiple players - you're much more likely to win a 2v1 or 3v1 rather than a 1v1. It's more probable an individual enemy that is confronted by multiple players will be overpowered, and even if the enemy player gets one or two kills, they should be traded with. This can net you a free weapon and any grenades they drop, which can then be saved (if on an eco) or picked up as an upgrade to your current weapon (if on a force buy). You can get the numbers on your opponent in a few ways.

Stacking a Bombsite

Stacking a bombsite means having the majority of players (4+) on CT side defending one single bombsite, leaving the other open. It's very effective on eco rounds if the enemy team are foolish enough to wander into the site you've chosen, due to the many angles they have to check and the many players they'll face. When defending, peeking together or positioning at alternate angles to cover each other while engaging the enemy can force a stronger situation. This pressures the enemy player, as he has to shoot at multiple targets in the same moment. Another advantage of stacking a bombsite, especially on the second round, is that if the enemy pushes the other site, you don't have to retake; simply saving what you've bought can give you a free force buy in the next round. You may even get some free upgrades if the enemy hunts you.

Establishing crossfires is a key aspect of a successful stack; having teammates on both sides of a doorway, the entrance to a site or even crossfiring across a bombsite can catch enemies in between two or more players and can potentially give multiple kills. A 'triangle of doom', as dubbed by some casters, involves three players and is even more effective at holding a site - it's also often established in post-plant situations in full buy rounds.

You can also perform a 'bait-and-switch' setup - having at least one player facing the enemy, and one or more players hiding, ready to peek at an off angle once the 'bait' has been engaged. This strat was used by EnVyUs against Fnatic at the recent ESL ESEA Pro League Season 2 Finals on Cobblestone; NBK stood at the top of CT Ramp with a Deagle putting pressure on the players in Lower whilst Happy and Kioshima hid in the cubbies to the side, which netted them the win despite their lack of equipment. Here's a screenshot which shows this a bit better (NBK playing the 'bait' can be seen on the far left):

Fnatic didn't expect to have two players positioned there, and so even though Kio is traded out, Happy comes out and cleans up the round. This also follows on to the next idea - doing something unforeseeable.

Playing Unpredictably

A good way to approach any round when you're on the backhand is to play 'randomly'. Pushing or rushing an area of the map (accompanied by a flashbang or two) to catch the enemy off-guard can often make up for a lack of weaponry, and works especially well on the Counter-Terrorist side. Examples that I've seen in professional matches include:

- Pop flashing A Long on de_dust2 and holding an aggressive position at Long Doors

- Grenade stacking/flashing Top Mid on de_dust2, which often results in a free upgrade of equipment (or even bomb control!) from any enemies peeking Mid or holding outside Long Doors

- Grenade stacking the bottom of Banana or Mid on de_inferno, accompanied by a push down either side to pincer the Terrorists

- Grenade stacking and flashing Top Mid or A Ramp on de_mirage, alongside an aggressive push (especially good for getting a free weapon or two at the beginning or a round)

- Pop flashing A Main or Squeaky on de_cache and having a multiple player push

- Aggressive positions/bait-and-switch setup close in Middle on de_cache

- Flashing Long or Construction on de_overpass and holding aggressive positions - bait-and-switch with the rocks and trees on Long is especially effective

- Flashing T Main, Upper B/Brown Halls or Ivy on de_train and pushing into said areas for information

- Aggressive positions in Lower A, Long A or on B Platform on de_cbble

These are just some examples of unconventional play that can occasionally catch your enemy off, assuming they're not prepared. Don't rely on these sorts of strategies, but use them every now and then. I'd encourage you to think of your own - there are many other areas you could exploit during an eco. When holding, try to choose a location that your opponents usually overlook, and if possible place multiple teammates there for a stronger hold. The pistols in CS:GO are most effective at close range - most of them can kill with a single headshot if you're close enough - so when equipped with one of the handguns try to hold a tight angle at the edge of a entrance, doorway or corner.

Choosing Your Firepower

When on an eco, it's unwise to stick with the stock pistol (Glock/P2000/USP-S) due their low armour penetration and thus poor damage against your opponents. Even if you only spend $300 on a P250, it's better than investing nothing. Of course, the best choice is the weapon you're most comfortable with, but I'll run through all of your options briefly if you're unsure. I won't waffle on too much about statistics and numbers, but instead I'll have a couple of lines highlighting their merits and drawbacks.

- P250

The cheapest upgrade available, this pistol packs a lot of punch for the price. Costing a mere $300 it is capable of a one hit kill headshot at close range no matter what the opponent has (as is the same with nearly all pistols mentioned here). It also has a low recoil, so a high fire-rate can be maintained; however its limited ammo reserve of just 39 bullets means it can't be overly spammed. A good solid choice for an eco no matter what, and a staple in most professional matches when money is extremely tight.

- Five-Seven

With a price tag of $500 this pistol is interchangeable with the CZ-75 on the Counter-Terrorist side. Doing similar damage to the P250, it boasts a high amount of ammunition (120 rounds) and has a short reload time. Recommended to those who are trigger happy!

- Tec-9

The go-to eco gun on Terrorist side, in many peoples' opinion. With an extremely high running accuracy compared to the rest of the pistols, it's perfect for rushes and can inflict a good amount of damage for just $500. Its strong rate of fire alongside a massive clip size and reserve ammunition make it a worthy competitor against a CTs rifle, and you're unlikely to ever run out of bullets.

- CZ75-Auto

With a price tag of $500 this pistol is interchangeable with the Five-Seven on the Counter-Terrorist side, and the Tec-9 on the Terrorist side. It has just 24 rounds total to spare, but packs fully automatic capabilities that make it deadly at close range. Whilst headshots are instant kills, it's usually easier and more effective to spray. However, it has a very long reload time and the longest draw time out of any weapon in the game. I would advise it only on CT side when holding a point blank angle, as on Terrorist side you'll usually be approaching the enemy from a longer distance, where the CZ is ineffective.

- Dual Berettas

The confused middle child of the pistols, this weapon is seldom used apart from in pistol rounds. Another option for $500, it offers a high movement speed when equipped and has a large magazine size of 30 rounds. It suffers from a long reload time and limited accuracy, as well as poor damage in most areas of the body. Not a fantastic choice, but alright if you want to have a bit of fun.

- Desert Eagle

More frequently known as the Deagle, this infamous handgun is renowned for its high damage, armour penetration and accuracy at long range. These features also come at a high price however - a potentially costly $700. Unless fired slowly, it has poor accuracy even at medium range. It is a difficult weapon to master, but no doubt you've seen the numerous frag clips that it's produced at a professional level. (Don't know what I'm talking about? Here here and here are good examples.)

- R8 Revolver

The newest addition to the pistols, it is also the most costly at a whopping $850. It is extremely powerful and can be perfectly accurate when using the primary fire option. The secondary fire offers a more inaccurate, but higher rate of fire option. It only has 16 rounds available in total, so it has to be used sparingly. Since it is such a fresh addition to the game (having being added just over a week ago as of this publication), it is unknown if more changes will be made on top of the nerfs it has already received. It appears to have the possibility for a high skill ceiling, similar to the Deagle.

As I said before, your investment into the eco round should be as minimal as possible and you should choose what you are most comfortable with. Don't choose the Deagle because you want to make a flashy play, when in reality the better and safer option would have been to purchase the Five-Seven. The map you're playing and your economic situation are also factors when choosing what to buy; sometimes you can justify not purchasing a better firearm when you've just had your loss bonus reset and your bank contains a piddly $1400.

Don't feel you're limited to just purchasing a stronger handgun; grenades can be round changing with a good popflash or a well aimed HE Grenade. Grenade stacking can give you a massive advantage if timed right. Flashing a teammate into an area of the map could net one or two free kills. For example; instead of that CZ-75, why not buy a P250 and a flashbang? Also, if you've got a significantly larger bank than your teammates, you can consider dropping them better pistols to upgrade from, or adding some Kevlar for yourself to increase your durability. When choosing what to buy, try to keep your money at a similar level to the rest of your team. Finally, if you're left alive and you've picked up an enemy's weapon, consider saving it by surviving the round, especially if it's useful in future rounds. You should save if you're in a tough situation where you're unlikely to win the round, such as a clutch situation or a post-plant situation. This is more advisable and relevant on the Counter Terrorist side as weaponry is usually more expensive.

Hopefully this guide gives you a clearer idea on how to approach those second rounds, as well as eco rounds in general. Happy fragging!

Are you into fantasy leagues? Then check out AlphaDraft and put together your allstar lineup!