Introduction

Train is an interesting map to play because of the verticality it presents and the various paths Terrorists can take to assault the two bomb sites, particularly A. Due to the way the map is played competitively, Ivy generally becomes a hotly contested position as it allows the T players to get in behind A site giving the CTs two angles to watch sitting at 12 and 6 o’clock, an almost insurmountable goal. Even if the Ts are pushing B, having a lurker Ivy who lands a frag can cause an over-rotation or can leave you open for a quick flank through Z connector and CT spawn.

CT-Side

As a CT player, you are going to want to have at least one player dedicated to the Ivy position, if not a second close by to back you up against a rush. Luckily, with the timings, you will always reach the position ahead of the Terrorists giving you time to set up your defense. Let’s talk about rifles here. You have a few options, both defensively and offensively. If you’re playing alone, you’re going to want to play passively, throw a smoke to block off the entryway and sit back. You have the advantage of two possible angles to hold here so without a flash the Ts have to guess which side you’re on. It can be common for an AWP to push this position, so peeking the hallway can be a poor choice once the smoke clears. I suggest playing an off-angle either to the left near green train if no one is playing that position or to the right. Playing right can be a safer option too, as you aren’t totally reliant on your team to hold Main while you are watching Ivy.

If you throw a smoke roughly in the middle of the door, it will land deep enough that Ts can't walk up and cover the whole hall!

The primary idea here is to get a pick then fall back with a flash or molly. There is a second corner either way that you choose to hold so it allows an easy path of retreat. The choice is yours, really. Holding right is safer and more Ivy focused while holding left is riskier but allows a quicker rotation onto A site. On the other hand, you can choose to be aggressive if you have someone willing to also play the Ivy position with you. As you have the timing advantage in reaching Ivy as a CT, it is actually possible to run the whole way down the hallway out into the open to peek the T side. Quite often you can catch the Ts unaware with their knives out as they are sprinting to get into position and coupled with a pop flash you can have a devastating impact against the T side.

This popflash is kind of by feel. I throw it to the empty space out right to minimise the amount of self-flash I cause

However, I feel like the most effective way to play the Ivy position, especially solo, is with an AWP and while many of the concepts remain the same there are a few nuances. The first choice you have to make is either smoking the position as shown above or not. If you choose not to smoke, then you can post up and hold the position. The only concern here is if a player jumps up on the trashcan. If they do, it might require a slight flick to get the kill. If you do smoke it, then you can potentially push up to green train to deny any pushes through A Main early in the round while having time to run back and hold Ivy if you hear someone rushing through the smoke.



Use this angle along the side of green train to get a quick pick and stop rushes out Main if you choose to smoke Ivy

Terrorist-Side

It can be quite hard to push Ivy, a long hallway with two diverting paths at the end and multiple angles to get peeked from. The first thing I would recommend is a one or two player push unless it’s a pistol or throw-away round. Against rifles, you can expect to get sprayed down as a team but against pistols, it’s possible to get the trades and push onto site. In general, however, the first step is to be wary of aggression from the CTs. Don’t run the whole way to Ivy with your knife out and even passively wait for a push for 5 or 10 seconds before moving up to the hall. At this point, you need to evaluate whether or not there is a smoke down. If so, you can feel free to post up and wait for it to clear. If not, expect an AWPer to be holding the angle and make sure you flash before you peek.

Use the CT smoke to your advantage!

Use the bin to your advantage to make it harder for them to kill you and try to counter them with your own AWP if you have one. Once the hall is clear, you have a couple of options depending on what your team’s plan is. On an A take, you’re generally going to want to push right into A site and flank the enemy, either killing them yourself or distracting the CTs enough for your team to do the killing. If you’re doing a B take, you can fight for long enough to pull players away from B to allow an easy take for your team or you can flank through CT to help out in the post plant. Either way, be aware of the CT positions mentioned before. You’re probably going to need a smoke to cover the other angle while you push. From here, it’s all about timing your push to perfection; you want to take fights while the enemy is distracted, so communication with your team is key.



Just a rough smoke to cover left. You or a teammate can do this while you're pushing to prevent flanking

Conclusion

The Ivy position is a major part of any match on Train and taking it or failing to hold it can have a massive impact on how the map plays out. The great thing about this position is it has an influence on the way a round plays out whether the T side pushes A or B and is therefore it's always a great position to hold. Take this information into consideration and you’ll find that you’ll be more successful on Train whether you’re playing in Pugs or on a team.

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