Map veto· Map veto / pick-ban phase

Map veto happens before any round is played and is one of the most strategically important phases of a CS2 match. Each team targets the opponent's strongest map (ban), then picks a map where they have a clear edge (pick). In a Bo3, the pattern is typically: Team A ban, Team B ban, Team A pick, Team B pick, Team A ban, Team B ban — and the final remaining map is the decider. Veto patterns reveal a lot: teams often follow scouting reports on each other's map-pool strength, so watching vetoes can tell you which map each team thinks they'll lose. Betting markets respond to veto announcements in real time; map-specific handicaps often swing several ticks on veto reveal.