Pawn structure gone with many pieces left

My friend and I were discussing this game of his. In this position, how do you decide what move to play, or even narrow down some candidate moves? I think the lack of pawn structure, combined with many pieces still active, makes me not see any clear plan. When I look at this position, my only thought is, "I need to simplify this before I hang a piece". How do you handle positions that are very open and changing with lots of options for both sides?

Black to play

Is this black to play ? Anyway, this is not an easy position

Are we to assume it is black's move?

Sorry, black to play!

I'd start with an evaluation, which could lead to a plan.  White seems to have the advantage with the bishop pair (that g2 bishop is just ripping up the long diagonal), rook on the open d-file, and his advanced e-pawn.  By comparison only black's bishop and b-file rook are doing anything.  Neither side's pieces are very well coordinated but if white can get his pieces in synch then black will be in serious trouble.  

As black I'd want to get my pieces active and working towards something.  The ideas that come to mind are to get my queen active and pressure the king -- get the knights to better outposts (b4 looks nice), double rook on the b-file or put the f-rook behind the c-pawn.  

The specific moves that come to mind are 1...Qh4 and 1...Qg5 (threatening both Qxf4 and Bg4), 1...Rb6 (to control c6, prepare to double, and prepare to reroute the knight with Na6-Nb4).  

I'd start calculating the queen moves first since those are the most forcing (1. Qh4 seems more forcing than 1. Qg5 because of the pressure on the h2 pawn), but black has lots of counterplay.  

Ok, this is an open position with opposite castling, so I'd like to find ways to attack my opponent, or at least improve my pieces.

After looking at the position, my candidates are : 1) ...Ne6 (more of a defensive move actually, but that's the first that popped in my mind, 2) ...Nb6 (to play ...c4), 3) ...Qg5 - an idea that came after looking briefly at Ne6 - I pin the Knight and can play Ne6 next, and 4)...c4, which I don't believe in, but sometimes you can sacrifice those pawns to accelerate your attack.

Now I need to calculate

The best move is 1.. Ne6

As often the case with opposite side castling, there are two clear plans in this position:

1. Race white for the king. Look for ways to play energetically.

2. #1 is not working and try to hold the position.

Lets start with #2. The natural defensive move in this position is 1 ..Ne6 (my first reaction when I see this position), because if white ever plays e6 to activate the bishop white wins easily. However, after 2. Nd5!, the queen has no good squares (best is retreat right to d8), and black will have a passive position. There isn't even a good way to simplify the position because white's pieces are attacking from a very safe distance and you have to find ways to defend and not hang any pieces at the same time. Things don't look good and black has to play very precisely to have drawing chances.

Seeing that option #2 is bad, lets consider the race scenario. In the start position, material is equal. Your king is in a safe positon and it takes white about 5 moves to get in any good threat against your king. White's king doesn't look as safe as your king. Black also does have some pieces pointing in the general direction of the white king. These are clues that signal that black has race possibilities.

In your position the best move is 1 ..c4!!. Lets look at the possible responses:

2. bxc4?? loses on the spot against Rxb2! or even Qb4. White's king is wide open and your king remains safe for 5 moves.

2. Qxc4 Rfc8! and the rooks are lined up against perfectly against the queen and king. It is white that needs to try to hold the position as black is much faster and the threats are strong.

2. e6! fxe6 3.Be4! is a good line for white combining attack and defense. White notices that option #2 is not working and tries to play as energetically as possible, activating the monster bishop and the position. Comp says black is better by about 0.6 but the position is very sharp and all results are possible.

c4 and Rfc8 are humbling moves. I never considered them.