Is playing slow necessarily bad? I play online chess on under 5+0 and 10+0(predominantly) time controls. I end up in time problems way too often (especially in 5 minutes TC). I contemplated a lot on certain positions, and somehow lose track of time due to it. I have played 10+0 time control for 95% of my chess playtime, and have gotten accustomed to it. I am rated 1800+ in rapid (10+0) but only at 1500+ in blitz (5+0). Mostly I lose blitz as I end up losing time in the beginning, and then speed up my play in the end (just to prevent flagging) leading to a blunder.

So is playing slow a bad thing in chess?

I saw Magnus Carlsen (in a livestream) say that he doesn't play 5+0 as it is way too long for him! So I wonder will the pace of my moves increase, as I get stronger. Or is it something that needs to be dealt separately. And are there any ways to improve it right now?
P.S.:- Most of my matched in 10+0 result in a win/loss (doesn't usually get flagged). And that win/loss seems a lot more appreciable as it is more justified.
Playing slowly depends on the time format of the game, If you are playing a bullet time format and you play slow, then you will make very few moves and time will run out before you checkmate your opponent. If you are playing a 90mins game and you play fast, then you will probably get checkmated and spent the next 75 mins waiting for the next tournament round to start...
There are both merits and demerits of analyzing a position too much.
Consider below position
[Event &quot;Bled-Zagreb-Belgrade Candidates (1959)&quot;]
[Site &quot;Bled, Zagreb &amp; Belgrade YUG&quot;]
[Date &quot;1959.26.10&quot;]
[Round &quot;27&quot;]
[White &quot;Robert James Fischer&quot;]
[Black &quot;Mikhail Tal&quot;]
[Result &quot;0 - 1&quot;]
[SetUp &quot;1&quot;]
[FEN &quot;1q2kbr1/p3rp1p/8/1p6/8/5Q2/PPP3PP/R4R1K w - - 0 1&quot;]

1. Qc6+ (1. Rae1) *

In the above position Fischer analyzed the position for a while, and had a move that could draw the game, he even wrote the move down (This may not be the practice today) but ended up playing a different move. Rae1 would have secured him a draw but the move he played Qc6+ cost him the game. So if he had not analyzed the game too much he would have drawn this game
I believe it is Magnus Carisen who said that sometimes he knows the move he will make but still analyzes the position even more on long games. For short games like blitz, if you know the move, make the move
Consider this position
[Event &quot;?&quot;]
[Site &quot;?&quot;]
[Date &quot;????.??.??&quot;]
[Round &quot;?&quot;]
[White &quot;?&quot;]
[Black &quot;?&quot;]
[Result &quot;*&quot;]
[SetUp &quot;1&quot;]
[FEN &quot;r5k1/5ppp/5b2/2R5/8/6P1/5PBP/6K1 b - - 0 1&quot;]

1... Ra1+ 2. Bf1
(2. Rc1) *

Is there need to think about the next move? There are only two moves, one is just giving out a rook. If you are playing a blitz game for example and there is only one move possible, play that move
Some positions may require more analysis, consider the below position
[FEN &quot;1r2k2r/p4ppp/2b3n1/1pRBB3/8/8/PP3PPP/5RK1 b - - 0 1&quot;]

1... Nxe5 *

How does white continue? Depending on how complicated the position is, there may be need to spent more time.
Now what if you have too many options at your disposal?
[FEN &quot;5r1k/ppbq1np1/2n1rp1p/8/2PP3N/2NBP3/2Q2BPP/R3R1K1 w - - 0 1&quot;]

In a blitz game I take the 1st good option and make it but if I have time, I can think about the position