Meet Tomás Bek

Tomás is an Argentine chess player who has been competing and coaching for over a decade. He moved to Byron Bay and now teaches players of every level — from first-move beginners to rated competitors — with the patient, ideas-first style Argentine chess is known for.

I will teach you how to talk to your pieces (maybe).

A different way to learn

Argentine chess has a strong tradition of teaching through understanding rather than memorisation. Tomás coaches the same way: instead of drilling opening lines, you learn the ideas behind them — why a move works, what your pieces want, how to turn an advantage into a win. It’s slower to start and far faster in the long run.

Who Tomás coaches

Five-year-olds playing their first game. Parents who want to keep up with their kids. Adults returning to the board after decades away. Club players chasing their next rating milestone. Everyone gets a plan built around their own games.

Byron Bay & the Northern Rivers

In-person lessons run across Byron Bay, Mullumbimby, Bangalow, Lennox Head, Ballina, Lismore and the wider Northern Rivers, with online coaching for everyone else. If you’re nearby and curious, the easiest first step is just to say hello.