Petrov

I am learning the Petrov as black. I am comfortable in a lot of the lines, but I'm a bit stuck for what to do when white plays as follows:

In my personal opinion, White looks very flexible since they can castle long or short. If I (black) decide to routinely castle short, I often end up being hacked away.

Have you got any very simple and straightforward plans I can use in a position like this?

1. e4 e5   2. Nf3 Nf6   3. Nxe5 d6   4. Nf3 Nxe4   5. Nc3 Nxc3   6. dxc3 Be7   7. Be3 Nc6  

There are two options for black in this variation:

1. Castle kingside and learn all the theory.
2. Wait until white castles (usually queenside) and do the same.

Both options have proven viable in high-level play.

Sure white can castle either side... he will have to choose one way or the other. A queenside attack with this pawn structure shouldn't be that strong. This is VERY different to the ultra-sharp queenside attacking in the sicilian where black must strike back fast. A queenside attack here is more a middle game problem and not a question of the petrof... and black should be doing well. 

I am not too expieranced in these positions, but if you can - look up on some model games by top players. Although if i recall, this line is a bit responsible for killing of the popluarity of the petrov.

Looked over one grandmaster game in the database - 

Short plan for black was - caslte short, finaceto the light square bishop and use the fact that you control the e5 square