Rules of thumb in chess can be quite handy for beginning chess players, but when a chess player becomes stronger it also becomes more important to know when to break those rules of thumb.

I just played a game which made me think about the rule of thumb "Do not play the same piece in the opening twice" :

For further reading :

• Ten rules for the opening

• Good Chess Guidelines for Beginning Amateur Players

• Ten top tips (NM Heisman)

• Chess Openings : Count the Developing Moves

• In the opening, don't move the same piece twice before you moved every piece once.

• Chess Tips