Lineup is a slang term CS2 players use for a set of grenades thrown from known spots and along known trajectories to solve a specific in-game problem. It can be a single throw or a whole sequence: for example, a smoke grenade on a certain corner of the map, a flashbang thrown through a wall to blind an opponent, and a molotov to smoke a player out of cover — all of this together is also called a lineup.
The term comes from the idea of "lining up" grenades to specific points so that each one plays its role at the right moment of the round. Unlike a random throw, a lineup is always memorized in advance: the player knows the exact position, aiming angle, and throw strength (sometimes involving a jump-throw or a bounce off a wall) so the grenade lands exactly where it needs to.
How it's used
Lineups are the foundation of a team's tactical preparation. They are learned on specific maps for specific spots: for example, a smoke lineup can block an enemy sniper's sightline during a bombsite execute, while a combination of a molotov and a flashbang can be used to dislodge a defender from a corner before a decisive push.
In professional esports, lineups often become part of a larger strategy — the so-called map "meta" or a specific execute that a team drills in scrims (practice matches against other teams). A well-executed lineup can decide the outcome of a round before players even directly engage: the opponent either loses their sightline or is forced to abandon their position.
Why it matters
A lineup requires precision — a mistake in the throw position or aiming angle can ruin the whole tactical plan. That's why players memorize these combinations through repeated practice, and teams keep their own libraries of lineups for different maps and situations. Knowing lineups is what separates a prepared player from a novice: where one player throws a grenade at random, another knows exactly where it will land and why.