In his early years he was a member of the Springer-Berlin club (founded 1895), where he showed great promise. In the 1921 Berlin championship he scored 12?/16 to finish in a tie for 2nd and 3rd places behind Schlage. And in his club's 1922 Jubilee tournament he scored 4?/9, which included a win against first-placed Saemisch. He also participated in the supporting events at the German Chess Federation congresses of 1920, 1921 and 1922 with moderate success.

However, perhaps because he had a regular job as a bank employee, and the fact that he married three times, he did not pursue serious tournament play in the way that, say, Kurt Richter or Ludwig Rellstab did. But he still had some successes; in the Hauptturnier at Swinemuende 1933 he was 1st equal with Kunerth and B. Ullrich with 5/7; and in the 1933 tournament for players nominated by the Berlin clubs, which had 53 entrants in five groups, he came 1st in the Winner's Group with a 100% score of 8, ahead of Kuhlmann, Benko and Nowarra.

Kipke later represented other Berlin clubs; Springer-Pankow CC and, latterly, Eckbauer.

After Germany invaded the Soviet Union in 1941, Kipke was one of several players - others included Elstner, Ahues and Babel - who were employed in the East to engage in chess events with Wehrmacht troops. This included chess instruction, simultaneous events and visits to hospitals.

Kipke died 25 December 1945 at Goerlitz.