You're a good player - you know the answer. Na5 followed by c5 and Qc7. Very simple and clear moves that are the main line.
Everyone wants to "play easier", but the other moves are clearly a lot more involved than Na5.
How to play 'Ruy Lopez closed' as black?
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Your ratings show that you are a extremely good player, so I would recommend that you look at the course on e5 (featuring the marshall) on chessable.
Online ratings don't mean squat. Take rychessmaster1 and Logozar for example, both rated over 2500 on chess.com, yet they're losing a good deal of rating points at the North American Junior Championship to 2000 players.
Op is 2300 in rapid though
There's no "best" move for Black after 9.h3. 9...Nh5 is a tried and true approach. 9...Nb8 has stood the test of time. 9...Bb7 can get pretty hairy, but if you like complications, it's for you.
SuperiorConfidentHot wrote:
I want to expand on the queenside so ideas like Na5 and c5 come to mind. I want to keep my lighter bishop where he is, and to improve other pieces in the time being. White is going to push on the kingside and on the queenside, I want to make some noise while that happens so 1) he doesn't have all the time in the world and 2) the lines of communication are open so I can respond or generate my own play after I see what he commits to.
Approach it this way and then the rooks and bishops will tell you what they want to do later, but appreciate their starting squares. It's easy to flounder these types of positions and get caught up in one's own head.
It's important to be feminine and to be receptive, open and patient with all of the information that is being given to you in some of these closed positions, if you try to rough it these positions might spoil unless you're better. Black isn't better here, you're just okay so don't play white's game, tend to your needs and "nest". The time for macho, forcing play comes later
You are putting way too much effort into this for it to be an entertaining and long-lasting account. You're going to get troll burn-out.
I am not good at Ruy Lopez, especially as black. I always play Marshall attack, but sometime white would play a4 or d3 to avoid it.
I think it's time to learn something about closed Ruy Lopez. Here is the position. After 9.h3, black has many choices, such as Na5, Nb8, Bb7,Re8. If I want to play easier, which move should I choose?