How to review your own demos.

The 5-step process

1. 1

   Download the demo

   In the CS2 main menu → Watch → Your Matches. Click Download next to a recent game. Demo files (.dem) save to your Steam/CS2 download folder. You can also pull demos via console: csgo_download_match_<id>.

2. 2

   Watch one half from your POV

   Play the demo, jump to your player's POV. Watch one half (12 rounds). Don't pause — get the rhythm of the half. Note moments where you feel uncomfortable: bad reads, missed comms, awkward positioning.

3. 3

   Re-watch with the 5-question checklist

   Re-watch the same 12 rounds. For each round, answer in your head: (1) Did I have the right crosshair placement? (2) Did I peek at the right time? (3) Did I trade or get traded? (4) Did I use my utility before dying? (5) Was my position rotateable?

4. 4

   Note 3 specific habits

   Don't generalize ("I need better aim"). Identify 3 concrete habits: "I peeked banana wide without flash 3 times," "I never threw my smoke before dying," "I rotated 5 seconds late on round 8." Specific = fixable.

5. 5

   Build a practice list

   Convert each habit into a 1-week practice item. "Wide peek without flash" → "10 minutes flash-peek practice on aim_botz daily." "Smoke before dying" → "Throw smoke first on every entry this week." Concrete habit → concrete drill.

Demo console commands

Press ~ to open console while watching.

• demoui

  Toggle demo playback UI (play, pause, speed, jump-to-tick)

• demo_pause

  Pause demo playback

• demo_resume

  Resume demo playback

• demo_timescale 0.5

  Half-speed playback for inspecting fights

• demo_timescale 2

  Double-speed for skipping economy rounds

• demo_gototick <tick>

  Jump to a specific tick — paste from a friend's timestamp

• spec_player <name>

  Switch POV to specific player

• spec_show_xray 1

  Show all players through walls — full information mode

5 red flags to look for

Watch for these patterns. If you see one, you have a clear thing to fix.

• You die first 3+ rounds in a row

  Your peek pattern is being read. Rotate, change angle, or peek with utility.

• You haven't thrown utility before dying

  You're in the wrong position or saving util for "later" that never comes. Pre-throw or stage smoke earlier.

• Your team rotates without you

  Your call wasn't heard or your position can't actually rotate. Either be louder in comms or pick rotateable spots.

• You crouch when you peek

  Crouching while moving destroys accuracy and locks you in a kill-zone. Peek standing, counter-strafe, fire.

• You never bait — you always entry

  No team can entry every round. Sometimes hold for the trade. Mix it up across rounds.