How to Set 1v1 in CS2: Maps, Private Server Settings, Commands
Despite massive criticism after its release, Counter-Strike 2 is still a popular first-person shooter game that has millions of followers worldwide. With the 5 vs 5 idea being the core of the match, playing 1 vs 1 with friends in CS2 can also bring plenty of joy.
By knowing how to 1v1 in CS2 and constant training with your friends or random opponents, you’ll obtain quicker reflexes and precise aiming. For those who want to train strafes, counter-strafes, right picking, or understand how holding angles work in Counter-Strike — one-on-one play is highly recommended. Knowing how to win at 1v1 in CS2 match is also a core for better behavior in the clutches, which is one of the hardest parts of the game.
In this tutorial, you can find basically everything you need to learn about how to set up a 1v1 in CS2 and have a great time in one of the most legendary games ever made.
How Do You Find and Launch CS2 1v1 Maps?
There are a few different ways how to play 1v1 with a friend in CS2, including in-built game tools and using outside opportunities.
Workshop Maps
The easiest and most reliable way how to 1v1 in Counter-Strike 2 is to visit the Workshop, which is a safe and free public market of diverse maps. The best 1v1 maps in cs2, along with many other maps, can be found there. The step-by-step guide looks like the following:
Launch CS2, go to the ‘Play’ tab, choose ‘Workshop,’ and open it by clicking on the responsive button in the lower left corner
Type ‘1v1’ or ‘aim’ to filter suggested maps.
Click on the small green cross to add it to your map pool.
Go back to the game and Workshop tab, choose the needed map, enable ‘Open Party’ (so friends can join your server), and launch the game.
Open the Console if needed and adjust the local server with the needed console commands (it depends on the particular map and the basic settings made by its creator). The detailed list of the needed Console commands on how to play 1v1 in CS2 is presented in a separate section below.
- Wait until your friend joins the map (you should be friends in Steam, and he should press the ‘Play’ button to join your lobby) and restart the game.
Downloaded Maps
One of the old-school methods on how to do a 1v1 in CS2 is to download the needed map and then invite a friend to join your local server via IP address. This method may not be the safest, as it requires downloading files on third-party resources.
Here is the step-by-step guide for this:
Open any trusted website with 1v1 CS2 maps and choose the map you want to play.
Download a .vpk file to your PC or laptop and open the downloads directory.
Open Steam, choose ‘Library,’ right-click on Counter-Strike 2, and choose ‘Properties.’
Go to ‘Installed Files’ and click ‘Browse’ to open the directory with CS2 files.
Go to the ‘game’ folder, then to ‘csgo,’ and then to ‘maps’ (there will be plenty of .vpk type files). Choose the saved map file in the ‘downloads’ folder and drag it to the game folder.
Go back to Steam → Library → Right-click on Counter-Strike 2 → Properties. In the ‘General’ tab, find the ‘Launch Options’ and add/type “-insecure”. It will allow the game to launch the needed map.
Launch the game, open the Console, and type “changelevel map name” (e.g., changelevel aim_map). The game will launch the selected map.
Type “status” in the Console, copy your IP address, and send it to your friend. He should also not miss the step of adding insecure to the launch options (Step #6); launch the game, open the Console, and type “connect [your IP address].
Wait until your friend joins the server, and then adjust the local server map via the needed Console commands (described in the details below).
3rd-Party 1v1 Servers
For those who don’t want to create a private 1v1 server in CS2 and dive into numerous settings, joining a community or public server can be a perfect choice. The only problem is finding the suitable one — both in terms of having the desired settings and being free when you decide to play 1 on 1. Usually, the following steps are required:
Find a trusted community server or open the website with 1v1 public servers. Choose the map you want to connect.
Copy its IP address and launch the game.
Open the developers' Console, and type “connect [IP Address]”.
If you haven’t played this map or on this server before, the game will ask if downloading the Workshop map is allowed. Click ‘Allow.’
In just a few seconds, you’ll be on the map; choose the side and wait for your friend.
As you can see in the screenshot above, the server is already adjusted for aiming 1-on-1 duels, with some free weapons available for both sides. It means you don’t need to type or paste any additional console commands.
Join Public Servers via In-Game Tool
A bit different way to find public servers is available right in the game.
Open the ‘Play’ tab in the game, then click on a globe. The game will readdress you to the scanner of available game servers with diverse filters.
Here, you can choose the game in the upper right corner, type the Server Name or Map, and then filter all suggested ones by Latency or players on the server. After picking the desired map, click ‘Connect’ in the lower right corner (blue button).
If the map is new to your PC, it will ask if it can download it from the Community Workshop — click ‘Allow’.
- Choose the side, wait for your friend, and enjoy the skirmish.
Among the disadvantages of this method is the possibility of other players joining the server and the pretty long time spent finding a suitable server in terms of basic settings. Some servers are password-protected and cannot be used for public 1-on-1 games.
Top-3 Most Popular 1 vs 1 CS2 Maps
With plenty of questions on how to 1v1 with a friend in CS2, many gamers are also interested in the best or most suitable maps for such battles. So, here are our top three maps for 1 on 1 Counter-Strike 2 duels:
- Aim Map
That is a pure classic with plenty of diverse boxes and dozens of weapons right under your feet, so you can forget about reloads and just switch the weapon.
- CS2_Dust_1_on_1
That is a pretty solid set of ideas on the single map, as it includes a design referring to Dust and Dust 2 maps. Every round starts with a different weapon (including pistols and sniper rifles) but is the same for everyone in the round for equal duels.
- AWP India
A lot of players like to take AWP and activate a ‘s1mple’ or ‘ZywOo’ godlike mode, so why don’t you try it with your friend and rely on quick scopes?
How Do You Set a Private Server to Play 1 vs 1?
Except for making aim sharper, some people can look at how to make a 1v1 lobby in CS2 for clutches training or to gain a responsive experience of right angle picking. Of course, it makes sense on the well-known competitive maps. Thus, you can deal with your friend that you are playing only on one side of the map (B site only, for instance) and so improve his and your skill on specific positions. This is how you organize this process:
Launch the game. Go to the ‘Play’ tab, then ‘Practice,’ then ‘Competitive.’ Choose the desired map, don’t forget to enable the ‘Open Party’ option in the upper left corner, and click ‘GO’ in the bottom right corner.
After choosing the side, open the Console and adjust the local server (a list of useful commands will be stated in the following section). For instance, you will definitely need to kick all bots via the “bot_kick” command.
Wait until your mate joins the server, restart the game, and dive into the competitive 1 vs 1 against your friend.
Commands You Need for 1v1 Mode
A comprehensive CS2 1v1 guide should contain a list of useful console commands to set the local server properly. Below is the table with the most common and needed commands that can help:
CS2 Console Command | Description |
|---|---|
| Activates a wider pool of console commands that can be used, including the ones to give the needed weapon, change money limits, or other useful options. |
| Kicks all bots from the local server, which is needed for a 1v1 game session. |
| Set the needed round time, with 1 to be equal to 1 minute of the playing time. Of course, when one dies, the round is over. |
| If the map is pretty open and there is a chance that you can see each other in the spawning positions — set the freeze time to zero so you can both start moving just after respawning. |
| If the map involves buying a weapon, it makes sense to increase the buying time. |
| This one allows you to buy a new weapon and other equipment anywhere on the map. |
| Those two are going together, as the first one increases the limit of initial money, while the second sets the starting cash for buying any weapon. |
| Instead of using the previous four commands, maybe you’ll be pleased to learn a single one that will give you any desired weapon. |
| If you and your friend decide to train spray control, then this command will allow you both to forget about reloading, as magazines will always be full of bullets. |
| Allows to skip the warmup period on the map if it’s present. |
| Finally, after all the needed settings are made, you can restart the game to implement all the changes. |
