While white has a better ending in that pawn structure (I believe Max Euwe illustrated the win for white, but with the a-pawn on a6 since it was the mainline exchange variation pawn structure he was looking at) keep in mind that there are many concrete factors such as bishop pair and various threats that must be considered. Pawns for black may be an asset since they'd restrict the darksquared bishop's mobility or make a lightsquared bishop cut across empty space (I mean with the thematic c7+c5+b6+a7 or a5 structure)
I have the Berlin Defence by Chess Stars, it's a good book overall, though most of the commentaries seem superficial.
It's important to know how to deal with a transposition into the Four Knights and systems where white plays 4.Qe2, 4.d3, and 4.d4 (lots of good play with that one, most important are 4.d4,exd4 5.0-0 and 5.e5,Ne4 but you said not to discuss specific lines so I'll respect that)
Again, the bishop pair thing and whether to exchange rooks or not depends on the concrete position.
As for the position here's the solution I think:
Ruy Lopez is a very rich opening.If it´s tactical e4 mess like the Open Spanish or positional torture as in the Closed Ruy, there will be always be something for everyone.
Today I will talk about the Berlin mainline ( queenless middlegame) and my thoughts and ideas on it.
Keep in mind that I´m about 1600 OTB, so I would appreciate, if other players would correct me or give their own opinion on the opening.
The Berlin Defence ( Mainline)
Disclamer:I will talk about the ideas and not about any concrete lines.
Pawn structure
If we look at the position below, we can see that white has a kingside majority. This means that white can create a passed pawn on the king side. Black instead has a doubled pawn on the queenside which are easily stopped by the healthy pawns from white. If white manages to exchange all pieces, he have a winning endgame.Also the prensence of the e5 pawn gives white some kind of space advantage and could be potentialy help white in the middlegame.
Therefore white should act actively and play for example something like f4-g4 to support the advanced pawn
King safety and piece development
It is true that black has lost his right to castle.Black will lose some tempo to bring his king castled, but we should not forget that the queens have been exchanged so a attack from the whiteside will not be not so dangerous.(AKA sack sack mate kind of attack)
The REAL problem with black king is that the rooks are not connected therefor it will be very hard to bring the rooks in the center and have some kind of central control.Therefore black should attack on the flanks.
For example a5/h5 following with a4/h4 to activate the rook.
Another Idea would be to block whites e5 pawn with the bishop and then try to exchange the rooks, which brings me to the next point.
Bishop pair
It is a known fact that the bishop pair are a advantage in the endgame(also middlegame) so it would be a wise idea to exchange the rooks and have a endgame against a knight and bishop.
What's your opinion on the position? Any other ideas?