Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) is a five-a-side tactical shooter. One team attacks as the Terrorists, trying to plant and detonate a bomb, while the other defends as the Counter-Terrorists. Valve released it on 27 September 2023 as the replacement for CS:GO, and the pro scene moved across with it.
How a CS2 map is scored
- MR12: each map is first to 13 rounds. Teams swap sides after 12 rounds, so regulation lasts no more than 24.
- Overtime: at 12-12, pro matches play overtime in sets of six rounds, three on each side. The first team to four wins the map; at 3-3, another set starts.
- Pistol rounds: each half starts with one (rounds 1 and 13), when both teams have only their starting money. The winner usually has an economic edge for the next few rounds.
- The economy: money earned each round buys weapons and armour. A team that loses several rounds in a row may have to save, which is why momentum matters so much to in-play prices.
Best-of-one v best-of-three
The number of maps changes the betting more than anything else. In a best-of-one, the weaker team only has to win one map, sometimes its own best, so upsets are more common and favourites are priced longer. In a best-of-three, the better team has time to recover from a bad map, and the depth of each team's map pool counts.
Grand finals at the biggest events are often best-of-five. Best-of-two series, used in some group stages, can finish 1-1, so their match market has three outcomes, including the draw.
The map pool and the veto
Teams play from a pool of seven maps, which Valve calls the Active Duty pool and changes from time to time. The pool at the June 2026 Major in Cologne was Ancient, Anubis, Dust II, Inferno, Mirage, Nuke and Overpass, so check the current list before you bet.
Before a best-of-three, the teams take turns to remove and choose maps. The usual order is:
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1 and 2 | Each team bans a map it does not want to play |
| 3 and 4 | Each team picks a map: these are maps 1 and 2 |
| 5 and 6 | Each team bans another map |
| Decider | The last map left is map 3, if needed |
Bans show what a team fears and picks show where it is comfortable. If you can, wait for the veto before betting on individual maps: a team can be a clear favourite on its own pick and an outsider on its opponent's.
The Majors
Valve's Majors are the most prestigious CS2 events, and there are usually two a year. The June 2026 Major in Cologne took 32 teams through three Swiss-system stages of 16, where three wins sent a team through and three losses knocked it out. The first two stages were mostly best-of-one, with best-of-three for matches that decided qualification or elimination. The third stage was all best-of-three, followed by an eight-team knockout with a best-of-five final.
Formats change between events, so check the rules each time. In a Swiss stage the next opponent isn't known until the previous round ends, which leaves little time for research between matches.
Popular CS2 markets
| Market | What you are betting on |
|---|---|
| Match winner | Which team wins the series |
| Map handicap | Winning by a margin of maps: -1.5 means winning 2-0 in a best-of-three |
| Round handicap | Winning a map by a set margin, such as -4.5 rounds |
| Total rounds | Over or under a line, such as 21.5 rounds, on one map |
| Pistol round | Which team wins round 1 or round 13 |
| Correct score | The exact series score, such as 2-1 |
Check whether overtime rounds count towards round totals and handicaps in your bookmaker's rules. Esports betting markets explained covers each market with examples. Betting is for adults aged 18 and over.
FAQs
What does MR12 mean in CS2?
MR12 means each half has up to 12 rounds, so a map is first to 13 and regulation lasts no more than 24 rounds. It replaced CS:GO's MR15 format, where maps were first to 16. At 12-12, professional matches go to overtime in six-round sets.
How many maps are in the CS2 map pool?
The competitive pool has seven maps, known as the Active Duty pool. Valve swaps maps in and out from time to time, so check the current list before a big event. In a best-of-three, each team bans two maps and picks one, and the last map left is the decider.
What is a CS2 Major?
A Major is one of the Valve-sponsored Counter-Strike championships, usually held twice a year and the most prestigious events in the game. Recent Majors have started with 32 teams in Swiss-system stages before an eight-team knockout bracket, though the format can change.