Mobile App: Play Magnus (age 9)

After playing this mobile app quite a few times and analyzing some games, I would like some help on the following matter.

At age 9, it seems that the engine has a basic understanding of most openings that it uses that is usually around 6 moves long depending. Also, my games at this level are very equal and I'm not sure what this means to me or what this points out as far as my playing level and what I need to improve on or the study material that I should be referred to. At age 9, it doesn't seem like the engine makes any crazy blunders or leaves itself open for common tactics frequently. It does happen some times though in what looks like a blatent attempt at recreating the human error factor. In an attempt to further analyze the strength of the age 9 engine, I played it with komodo 8 software which ,of course, hands down won in around 37 moves if not fewer usually with no drastically obvious reasons to me until the end of the middlegame. I would guess that the rating at age 9 is around 1450 elo or so.

So, to the point. In the computer analysis, most of my games are practically dead equal the whole way through. I want to change that. I'm not sure what the best approach is to improve just your overall "best move" calculations or if that is even what my game is lacking. I would like suggestions on this matter. 

This is an example start of what the above describes. I'm wanting a kingside attack but I'm not quite sure how to get there. The engine matches all my moves and things stay equal.  At this point I'm wanting my c3 knight to find its home at d5 after the bishop for knight trade and try to get the kingside pawns rolling along with the other knight coming to the kingside via f3 and so on. Easier said than done for me though but I was trying to stick to my plan. Perhaps I was trying to follow through with my plan too early and should of finished activating my pieces but I never seem to be able to pinpoint the moment for that. The rook on a1 looks really bad but I was also contemplating a bishop sac becoming a possibility and my queen going to g4 and my inactive rook going to the kingside. I feel like I would be waisting a tempo by moving my inactive rook right now when it doesn't seem to know where it needs to be yet.

Magnus was only 1450 at nine? Wow, there are 2100's at that age.

Timing is definately one of the things I realize I need to work on. Perhaps I need to work on it more immediately than I thought. Speaking of which, are there any resources that focus on teaching timing? I am also looking to focus more on learning static vs dynamic position analysis as I think I'm lacking strength in that area as well and I think that would help my planning abilities some.

I didn't like 10.Qd2 Nc5

I'm trying to get a feel for what is good timing and what is just being passive. 

I'm not sure what his rating actually was but the engine is around that level at age 9. At age 10 it jumps a lot though and continues to change drastically for the next few years.

I'm guessing 11...dxc5 12. Rad1

I have to admit I didn't quite think about the rook coming behind the queen and thought black would have free reign on the d-file. A quick look at a few continuations leads me to think black is absolutely fine here though.

Another example. I got to the end and couldn't see a breakthrough that would give me an advantage. To me it was a sure draw. The komodo variation is just crazy good compared to my level so I didn't think about taking a pawn with my knight and being fine as seen in said variation. 

What moves would you have done different in this game?

Bam! I went and dove into some master games and all it did was just remind me of everything that should be considered in a position. I ended up with a winning plan this time. Maybe I just needed a reminder on the thinking fundamentals.

I realize I was hardly winning in this position but I'm not trying to play against a perfect opponent.

Comments and suggestions are welcomed.

Magnus 9 is a bit challenging. For me if I don't play him by heart I can't win but if  seriously, no problem.