Peeking

Peeking is the act of stepping out from behind cover to expose an angle, spot an enemy, and either take the fight or pull back. Good peeking is about timing and information: when you initiate the peek, you usually see the opponent a fraction of a second before they see you, which is why aggressive players often win even fights.

Variations include the wide swing (peeking far out to beat an enemy holding tight) and the shoulder peek (briefly exposing yourself to bait a shot, especially against an AWP). Disciplined peeking, paired with counter-strafing for accuracy, separates skilled players from those who simply walk into angles.