Originally posted by shade343:
use hotkeys, most important.
if you are asking solely how to play DOTA, then follow these:
1. concentrate on enemy units first to gain experience, dont be hero try to kill opponent characters (unless u see got good chance the enemy low health u can easily kill him)
2. use the right spells. if u r a low level character, get something u think can let u kill units faster, instead of something meant for enemy heros.
3.stay behind troops, otherwise u get killed. even if u choose melee character also need to be careful and stay back sometimes.
4. work with teamates, if you are melee, go with a range teamate so he can cover u.
if u wanna know actual WC3 game strategy, it is too much to write here. u have to use your brain a lot and play a lot.