How The CSGO Map Choice Affects CSGO Live Betting Odds

Toby Marshall
18 May 2022
How The CSGO Map Choice Affects CSGO Live Betting Odds

One of the things that can often be overlooked when betting on CSGO live is the choice of map. These can actually have a hugely pivotal role in the game. Every single one is completely different from the others and will offer a unique area on which the match can be played out. As such, team strategies will vary wildly between the different maps. Some will favour the Terrorists, whilst others might favour the Counter-Terrorists, depending on how the map is laid out.

Each team out there, especially the pro teams, will have a list of the maps that they favour – and also the maps that they prefer to avoid – which is known as their ‘map pool’. Because of this, it isn’t particularly uncommon to see one team absolutely annihilated by the opposing team if the opposition was the team to choose the map. They would then counter this by choosing the next map and dominating on that one.

Understanding the Map System

When it comes to CSGO betting, it is essential to understand how the map system works if you are to stand any chance of success. This is even more vital if you are betting on the matches in-play as there are certain maps that are hugely one-sided – and there are simply some teams that favour and work much better on particular maps. So, knowing how a map is likely to favour either team can give you an excellent insight into the outcome of the match.

Obviously, if you are new to the game, then make sure you know all about the basics first – as the more knowledge you have of the entire game, the better your chance of betting success!

CSGO Map Choice Basics

At this moment in time, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive has seven maps available in the competitive pool:

  • Dust 2
  • Inferno
  • Mirage
  • Nuke
  • Overpass
  • Train
  • Vertigo

Each of these maps have an entirely different layout. This means that each one has different strategies along with specific advantages and disadvantages depending on whether you are the Terrorists or Counter-Terrorists team. So, for example, Dust 2 is a reasonably straightforward map. As such, the usage of utility is pretty simple and the strategies employed are generally straightforward and uncomplicated.  So, it’s not an uncommon choice for a team that prefers to rely on pure skill as opposed to tactics and strategy gameplay.

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Teams generally build their map pools based around their preferred play style. A perfect example of this is Astralis. They have constructed a team that is flawless in terms of utility management and teamwork. Because of this, they often focus their attention on maps such as Nuke, Inferno, Overpass and Train, where excellent use of resources gives them a big advantage.

However, there  is a lot more to consider about the map choice in CSGO. Another important factor to take into consideration is how the map’s specific layout will affect the chances of either the Terrorists or the Counter-Terrorists. There are some maps that make defence easier, whilst other maps are more suited to the attacking force.

The three most important maps that you need to be aware of are Train, Nuke and Overpass. Each of these three maps are strongly biased towards the Counter-Terrorists, particularly Nuke. So, it’s pretty common to see the Terrorists teams win ony around 3 or 4 rounds – but then make a huge comeback when they return to the map as the Counter-Terrorists – and make up the deficit.

However, the other maps tend to be reasonably balanced and often see successes for the Terrorists and Counter-Terrorists teams. Also, it’s worth noting that there have been a few recent changes to Vertigo and Dust 2 which slightly sway it towards the side of the Terrorists.

How CSGO Teams Choice of Map Changes Things

A team picks a map for the match via a map veto. Each team will take turns removing and picking maps. The order depends on the particular event and the format of the event.

If it’s the best of one, then the team will keep removing the maps until there is only one left. If there is a best-of-three, then a team would normally vito one map each and then pick one. They will then each ban one more and the remaining map will be used as the third one.

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Usually, a team will ban their least preferred map first and then they will pick their favourite map – although there can be a lot of strategy when it comes to map vetoing. This very much depends on the preference of the team and how much confidence they have against their opponents. So, for example, teams such as G2 Esports rarely play Overpass. However, if they are playing against an opponent that never plays on it, then they may come up with a few map strategies and use it as their surprise pick.

How Map Choice Can Affect CSGO In-Play Odds

If you can correctly guess which maps the teams are likely to pick, then this is an excellent way to get the edge on making a bet pre-match. However, most of the time when the maps have been decided, the match will already be in-play and the odds will keep on fluctuating.

The map choices themselves won’t change the odds too drastically, but as soon as the game is in play and a few rounds have been settled, then map expertise will be very helpful.

Generally, if one team starts to build up a lead, then their moneyline odds on that map will start to drop – and their opponent will start to increase. However, this will vary depending on whatever map is in play.

Again, one of the very best examples of this is Nuke. If one team takes the lead as the favoured Counter-Terrorist side, then their odds will decrease – but not as much as if playing on other map. Regardless, odds will change and making a bet on a team that isn’t doing well on that map on the Terrorist team will likely have some great value.

This can also apply to the halftime scores. The scoreline 8-7 is the closest you can get for halftime in CSGO. Usually, scores of 9-6 and 10-5 are also considered to be pretty evenly matched. However, the halftime scoreline of 11-4 or even 12-3 would be considered pretty close on maps such as Nuke.

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Another thing to bear in mind is the type of rounds on the map. Winning the first round of a map gives that team the economical advantage and will normally secure the first three rounds for a team. Afterwards, both teams should then be on a more even playing field in terms of economy and the result can then start going either way.

You could even go one step further and add an extra layer by looking at what side a team prefers. This would usually apply more to the evenly balanced maps such as Mirage and Inferno – and this is something that does need a little bit of game knowledge.

So, if you are thinking about making some in-play bets on CSGO live, then you need to bear in mind what choice of CSGO map is being played and, even more importantly – who picked that map!

Author Toby Marshall