Biography

Nephtali Diaz is a Bughouse specialist and co-author of Bughouse Chess, the only book on the topic collaborated by an elite group: the world’s strongest bughouse players. Please feel free to download a free 40+ page preview here. Neph is involved in an extensive variety of hobbies & interests that keep him very busy including bughouse, chess, trumpet, ping pong, piano, singing, dancing and is a full-time currency trader.
As an experienced Chess & Trumpet instructor, Mr. Diaz is here for you, as he has the tools necessary to make you a better player since he has taught, mentored and improved over 500 students from all around the greater Houston area & United States.

Neph, a resident of Houston, Texas, has been a member of USCF (governing body of U.S. chess) since 1995, has competed in over 200 local, state, & national chess tournaments and has been ranked as high as top 7% of all U.S. chess players. He has given countless chess & bughouse lectures at various venues not only around the Houston area, but also in different parts of the country including the annual National Open Chess Festival, in which the lectures are predominantly given by grandmasters. Mr. Diaz has competed in the event every year since 2003 and has had many strong results, including 1st place finishes. See the Chess tab for more.
Trumpeting is another activity that puts a smile to his face. Currently, he is the trumpet masterclass instructor at many Houston-area schools and has privately worked with a myriad of students who have all shown improvement under Neph’s direction. He plays with a professional small combo group consisting of trumpet, trombone, sax, piano, and bass guitar, and is the sole wind instrumentalist at his church. Neph is often hired to perform for various groups, and subs in for the Galveston Symphony Orchestra. He has also been a member of one of Houston’s longest running big bands, comprised of professional musicians who have been invited to perform all around Houston, and has performed with them internationally. Most recently, Neph was able to win a musical instrument talent audition to be one of six featured instrumentalists for a very popular game show in Asia. For more info on either chess or trumpet, please click on the appropriate tabs at the top of this page.

For a visual representation of all the activities in which Neph is involved, please visit his YouTube channel and if you’d like to contact him, just click here.

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