4.d3 or 5.Re1 against Berlin?

A question for people knowledgeable on the Berlin lines.  Is one of these choices for white more ambitious than the other?  The 4.d3 anti-Berlin line allows black free and active development, while the 5.Re1 Open Berlin brings about a symmetrical pawn structure, albeit with queens kept on the board unlike the Berlin endgame.  Anyone have any input on how ambitious either of these lines are?  Or is it better going the MVL route and just learning the endgame and trying to convert the kingside pawn majority?  I'm Just having difficulty deciding which of these 3 choices I want as my main repertoire choice against the Berlin when I roll with 1.e4.  

I play d3 against the Berlin. Early queen swap makes the game boring. Blacks doubled pawns and lost castling right would take many moves for white to win or draw. d3 assures an interesting game.

@jengaias  Thanks for posting those awesome stem games!  All 3 of those plans do in fact seem more ambitious than playing the 5.Re1 lines.  

@bong711 I generally am not a fan of early queen swaps either, although I might be in the minority in finding the Berlin endgames interesting.  Since I'm no professional (and never will be), it definitely makes more sense to just enjoy the game and play something that keeps more pieces on the board.  

It really depends on the type of game 'you' want. A lot of people say the Berlin is boring but honestly I bet that most of them just don't know what's going on. It's a complicated ending to play from both sides with a lot of rich ideas. The complaining comes from GM results but it's a different story for class players entirely. 

I think it's a lot better to just simply choose the type of position you'd like to play more. 

I think that's pretty much true. As someone that only plays this line as Black, given the choice between playing against Re1 lines or d3 lines, I would rather face Re1 if my opponent is stronger than me, if they are weaker or about the same I would prefer they played d3. The Berlin Wall endgame is probably what most Berlin players 'want'.

If you want to avoid the endgame, 4.d3 is certainly a good choice. As you wrote that you actually find these endgames interesting you might want into John Cox' book "The Berlin Wall" (Quality Chess 2008). Obviously the theory is a bit dated by now, but it is an outstanding examination of the different motifs of the endgame which will not only help you understand the Berlin endgame but other exchange structures as well, with some general endgame qualities to boot.

out of interest why is Nc3 never mentioned as a possoble option? i think the four knights spanish gives white always a very slight pull

Good question?  

nicw suggestion. could work for me.

As a Berlin player i am always happy to see Re1 - Of course it is a legit try but the push you get as white is so small that it is much easier to completely equalize with black then it is to increase your advantage with white. The remaining position is practically symmetrical giving white very little change to outplay his opponent from an equal position (i never lost a serious game in the Re1 Berlin, though i only won 1 too)

d3 is more difficult because as black you always have to be aware of many move orders and transpositions. Instead of the more normal lines white actually chooses the structure he will do battle in (change on c6 / play for d4 etc). It does not promise more or less advantage then Re1 but gives a little higher chances to move order your opponent or to outplay him in an equalish position.

As an 1100 player, I used to have no respect for the Berlin. I felt that there was no way White could possibly lose the endgame when Black's king was in the center and White had a huge kingside space advantage.

Suffice it to say that when I came across an opponent that played it about a year later, now rated 1450 in serious slow chess, I prepared 4. d3.

4.d3 Bc5 5.Bxc6!
The line I posted on diagram #12 will get you pretty quick wins as White, pretty poisonus.