Formats of CS:GO Matches: What We Should Know for Successful Betting

As CS:GO is a principal esports discipline, there are specific rules and demands that organizers have to abide by while conducting competitions.

In total, there are four formats of CS:GO matches that differ from each other in the duration — in other words, the difference is contained in the number of played maps.

However, history knows examples of using borrowed formats like, for instance, at the championship called Gamers Without Borders 2022. Due to the fact that the tournaments was a charity event, the organizers decided to copy a VALORANT format, using the Bo3 system up to 13 rounds. Therefore, the tournament operator spiced up the regular format existing on the stage to make their event more spectacular.

Anyway, it was a one-off that has never been repeated on the professional level since then. Thus, we could outline four established formats that are used at major championships to this day:

• Bo1 (a game till a victory on one map)
• Bo2 (a CS:GO match lasts two maps, implying the possibility of a draw)
• Bo3 (classic format in the game up to two wins)
• Bo5 (standard variant of matches in grand finals of big tournaments — a game up to three victories)

Summarizing the listed options, it is worthwhile to dwell on each of the formats and learn their details, it will help to make more accurate predictions for CSGO team betting and improve your winning statistics.

Bo1

The most simple and at the same time fastest format of matches — Bo1. In this case team choose one of seven maps where their encounter will take place. As there is only one map, the rules of the championship may consider three ways of defining the side: 1) by the initial seeding; 2) victory in a knife round; 3) by the order of the peak/ban of the map.

This format is used at major championships, for example, for playing starting rounds of the Swiss stage. Besides, Bo1 is used by ESL while conducting IEM championships. Particularly, Bo1 matches are played in the first round of the Play-In stage.

This system used to be used by BLAST who organized group stages of their qualifying championships of the BLAST Premier series. However, in 2023 the tournament operator will abandon Bo1 at group stages.

Apart from it, there are numerous examples of using Bo1 at tournaments. It will suffice to open the list of current championships and get familiar with the timetable of the upcoming CS:GO matches to see the existing number of matches that last only one map.

The main idea of Bo1 lies in the following — the team has to take 16 rounds for victory. Other case is when teams were unable to define the winner in 30 rounds and then they are given overtime. In any case one rule remains the same: the team that wins the map wins the game.

Bo2

The format is a very rare resort at big championships and on the whole stage. In this case both teams pick one map each and play a series on them. There are three outcomes: 1) team A wins; 2) team B wins; draw.

In Bo2 teams can draw if each of them wins two maps. And a decider is not played in this case.

However, this format occurs rarely, in each season there are fewer and fewer Bo2 matches. Rare Polish championships sometimes become the exceptions, as the group stage is played on two maps.

Bo3

The most popular format of matches that is used if not at all then at 99% conducted championships on stage. Perhaps, it is not difficult to understand the specifics of the Bo3 format as each fan has watched this battle at least once.

The rules of Bo3 are very simple: teams take turns to pick maps, and also set a decider. To win, participants have to take two maps and if they cannot define the strongest on their picks, the winner will be determined by the results of a decider — third map.

This format is applied at all big championships — BLAST, ESL, Elisa, CCT and so on. Besides, majors are also held in Bo3, including grand finals.

The rules are also very simple: 16 rounds or overtimes.

Bo5

One of the most complicated formats for teams but the most fascinating for fans. Usually Bo5 is used at finals of big championships, however, every year their number is getting smaller and smaller.

Currently there are only several major tournaments with Bo5 games. By the way, they are still used by ESL.

As for the rules, one of the team will have to win three out of five matches to finish victoriously. As soon as one of the participants exceeds the desirable mark, the meeting ends. The main feature of the format is the fact that the match can end on three maps at once or drag for four or five maps.

Anyway, there are two ways of conducting Bo5: 1) classic, when teams do not need a handicap; 2) with a one map handicap.

In the second case the participant that has made it to the grand final through the upper bracket will automatically start the series with one point. Therefore, the team gets an advantage in the series and it will have to win only two more maps.

This format is used at championships with a double elimination bracket. The ESL Challenger League series is a great example of the format. However, we have not seen such situations at big events for a long time as organizers tend to refuse from external terms more and more often.

How to consider the format of the match for CS:GO betting?

As the format of the match affects the duration of the meeting, we need to look at rules and tendencies carefully while gambling CS GO.

First of all, in Bo1 you need to look at the map and statistics of the teams. This format is not used for a pre-match, so you have to look at the choice of the map live and only then to opt for one of the teams.

However, in this case it is quite reasonable to estimate the chances of the teams based on the played side. For example, the attacking team on Nuke has more chances to win back after switching sides and making a comeback.

Bo2 makes everything more complicated as the fans will come across a dilemma — a chance to get a draw. In simple terms, it is a good idea to skip such matches, and their number cannot show off matches between famous teams.

Bo3 matches are much more interesting. For starters, before placing a bet, you need to look at teams and the maps they picked. It will be very efficient to seek options after the first map and loot at the next pick. If the favorite takes the opponent’s map, we are likely to see a disastrous defeat on the scoreboard.

However, in this case we can experiment as here we can see several interesting options with totals and handicaps.

As for Bo5 matches, it is hard to guess the exact number of maps. So, the majority resorts to the standard scheme of choosing the winner, based on their personal preferences.

Summing up, currently there are four formats of CS:GO matches, and only three of them are popular at big championships — BO1, BO3 and BO5. However, using knowledge and rules of each format, we can define the winner and make a right bet.