1. d4 e6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 d6 4. Nf3 Nfd7 5. e4 Be7 6. Be2 O-O 7. O-O Re8 8. Be3 Nf8

In quick games with no increment, I increasingly play this defensive structure.

I only ever moved two pawns by one in the center, so I'm not committed to anything. My knight on f8 defends mate on h7. I'm planning to play c6, Qc7 and push e5, which is depressed position but rock solid.

White despite having a considerable advantage, often times finds it difficult to come up with a plan.

This game is a showcase of a strong white player playing against this structure, ultimately grinding it to a won position, just to lose on time. Yes, with increment this game would have been lost. Yes, at 10 + 0 it would have been certainly lost.

#1, "considerable advantage"

So basically you say every BS is playable as long as you play fast.

Then every game with 3 + 0 or less time control without increment is BS.

I bet 1 + 0 and 3 + 0 are two of the most played time controls on lichess. I'm optimizing my play for these time controls.

In the past I tried learn some normal theory, but have given up on this.

I only build my repertoire based on game experience, I long since ignore engine analysis of my games.

More of the fast and bad strategy, exactly what the game needs.

Speed has replaced quality.

If you look at this diagram, engine gives a constant +1.6 in the opening for white.

I personally fail to see this advantage.

I think this advantage on human terms is imaginary, may be it is +0.5, but certainly not a winning advantage. It simply evaporates, a human white player finds it difficult to come up with the moves that actually justify this +1.6 evaluation and indeed this advantage evaporates even according to the engine and most of middle game is played on 0.0 terms.

https://i.imgur.com/P6W8tRs.png

@hyperchessbotauthor
"I bet 1 + 0 and 3 + 0 are two of the most played time controls on lichess."

I doubt that.
291,605 Bullet players this week.
623,899 Blitz players this week.
398,327 Rapid players this week.

I remember John B claiming in one of his recent videos that Rapid is relatively more popular on Lichess than on other sites (don't know where he got that from though). And supposedly 10+0 is the most popular time control on chess.com. I remember Daniel R saying so during PigChamps 2, and so also says this old data: https://www.chess.com/article/view/interesting-chess-data-time-controls-and-game-results

Me personally, I have my doubts that the very fast time controls would be very popular on a site in which you can't queue pre-moves.

This gross under representation of bullet looks to me a COVID development, many in lack of outdoor possibilities play online chess, and incoming inexperienced players may be uncertain about fast time controls. Certainly historically bullet was a major player among time controls. Somehow fast / no increment time controls are tied to not being able to cheat, and respected more in online chess. Many strong players voiced opinion that a game without increment is the real thing, and this is true even for long time controls. I feel I have more chance in a 25 + 0 game, than a 15 + 15 game, even if my repertoire is less than sound.

BSing around a bit

Wondering, what would you do after 35....Be7.? Your position is more or less dead.