George Jempty wrote on 11/06/15 at 10:47:54:

I published a month ago some analysis about this line on my blog http://chess-brabo.blogspot.be/2015/10/the-sequence-part-2.html

JEH wrote on 11/06/15 at 10:57:31:


Probably overthinking this a bit too much, but I think the problem with answering this question, which occurs a lot on this forum, is that there seems to be no satisfactory answer by sticking faithfully to one defence. 

Even though it's a lot more work, I thought going with the three defence approach might solve this. 

e.g.

Solid: Berlin Wall
Sharp: Open
Surprise: Something else without 3. ...a6, e.g. Berlin Classical, Schliemann-Jaenisch or Bird, i.e. worth a punt but not for full time use.

or with 3. ...a6

Solid: Breyer
Sharp: Marshall
Surprise: Could be as list above, but options like Neo-Archangel or Gajewski Gambit

or

Just surprise opponent with different defence each time until they all go 5. d3 

I find this thread interesting for it's mention of a couple of lines in the closed Ruy (9.h3 Na5 10 Bc2 c5 11 d4 exd4! 12 cxd4 Re8 and 9. h3 Bb7 10.d4 Re8 11.Nbd2 exd4 12.cxd4 Nd7!?) that bear investigating.  But since it seems the OP isn't interested in the Marshall, how about a different move order to get to the closed Ruy, via the Modern Steinitz?

3...a6  4.Ba4 d6 and up to 5% of my opponents at fast time controls (blitz or rapid) fall for the Noah's Ark trap 5. d4!? b5  6.Bb3 Nxd4  7.Nxd4 exd4 8. Qxd4?? c5 9. Qd5 Be6 10. Qc6 Bd7 11. Qd5 c4.  Free points are great and there are even two dozen instances of this in 365chess.com!

On 5.c3 there is the Siesta 5...f5 which I'm having success with in engines-on correspondence play; see the next thread on this Spanish board: http://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1446586192  

And then there is 5. 0-0 to which Black can respond beginning with 5...b5 and a round-about way to the closed Ruy can be reached: 6. Bb3 Nf6 7.Re1 or 7.c3 (there's also 7.Ng5 with a sort of Two Knight's: see http://www.365chess.com/eco/C78_Ruy_Lopez_...b5_...d6 -- if you want to avoid this you can play 6...Be7 before 7...Nf6) 7...Be7 8.c3 or 8.Re1 8...0-0 9.h3 etc.

Actually in the above move order if you'd eventually like to play 9...Bb7 if White plays 7.c3 you might play 7...Bb7 when White must protect e4 (presumably with 8.Re1) because he will no longer have Bd5 in response to ...Nxe4.  Again something you might catch somebody out with at faster time controls.

Zatara wrote on 10/30/15 at 00:36:26:


I think this is a good variation wich scores well for black. And also it ends up in interesting positons if white play along. Ok, you must sometimes face the exchange variation, but its the only downside and there must be hope here too...?

GG

I am in a similar predicament myself

I would suggest the Neo-Archangelsk, i.e. delay Bb7 for a bit longer and keep option for Bg4.

I am eagerly awaiting Bologan's book though 

Zatara wrote on 10/30/15 at 00:36:26:


I know the subsequent tactics appear to require the inclusion of 3. .. a6, but one of the points of playing 3. .. Nge7 was to take Exchange variation players out of their comfort zone. 

Whilst GMs can make drawing level endgames look easy, it isn't always so simple. Positions that Black wants to avoid in practice are where there are only two results, namely White wins or draw. 

What is your rating? I don't think you have to worry about any opening being "too drawish" until you're at least a master. Until your rating is very high, it will be pretty rare that you have a game where

1) your opponent is so low-rated that you'll be unhappy with a draw
2) despite being low-rated, he knows how to reach that drawn endgame
3) despite being low-rated, he can hold that drawn endgame.