Chris “herdgolf86” Tipper got a late Christmas present last month. Well, present isn’t quite the right word since he most definitely earned every penny of the $4,725 he won in the Full Tilt Poker15k guarantee on December 26th. What added a little shine to that particular win was that it was the third leg of Pocketfives Triple Crown. He won the Bodog10k on December 20th and the PokerStars$22 rebuy on Christmas Eve. Between the three wins herdgolf86 took home just over $13,000 and earned himself a place on the Triple Crown Wall of Champions.

This achievement got lost in the holiday shuffle for a bit, but I caught up with herdgolf86 this week to find a little bit more about him, the Triple Crown, and his goals on and off the felt.

Lenny: Congrats on the wins and the Triple Crown! This is a pretty big boost to your bankroll, correct? The higher buy-ins you’ve played in the past, were those satellite wins, you taking shots, or part of your strategy?

herdgolf86: Thank you. I have done well over the past three or four months. I used to try to satellite into a lot of things, and I took a few shots in Sunday majors. Now I can afford to play a pretty good schedule and not worry too much.

Lenny: When did you start playing seriously? Did you play at all as a kid?

herdgolf86: I started playing some home games in high school, but I didn’t get into the online game until about a year and a half ago.

Lenny: Not long after you started playing the U.S. Passed the UIGEA, what did you think of that? Did it discourage you at all?

herdgolf86: I was kind of worried at first, but after I saw the sites I played on still running fine it didn’t bother me too much.

Lenny: How do you move money around online?

herdgolf86: I use epassporte for deposits, but I normally use checks if I am cashing out.

Lenny: Do you rely on poker for income?

herdgolf86: Yes, but my school and rent has been paid for through a golf scholarship, so I really don’t need much cash.

Lenny: There seems to be a lot of crossover between golfers and poker players. Is this just because we're talking about a large group of American men? Do you find any similarities between the two games?

herdgolf86: Most golfers are gamblers and you definitely have to be mentally tough to be successful in both games. Aside from the mental aspect I don’t see many similarities.

Lenny: Where are you in school? What are you studying?

herdgolf86: I am a senior in finance and economics at Marshall University, but I will have an extra semester to finish up in the fall. I am just nine hours short of graduating this spring, but I am actually looking forward to coming back for one more semester with such a light course load. I will be able to concentrate more on cards, and just have some fun.

Lenny: Have you thought about post grad plans? Where does poker fit in?

herdgolf86: I am not sure yet. I already have some job opportunities, but I would love to stick with poker if I think I can make a living. Right now I plan to play hard until I graduate then make a decision. Even if I don’t make it a career, I see myself playing poker for a long time.

Lenny: Can you think of a common mistake the average player makes, or a situation that comes up frequently they could play more profitably?

herdgolf86: Well, I think the average player makes a lot of mistakes deep in tournaments. They won’t adjust their hand ranges and I often see people worrying about the prizepool and pay jumps rather than optimal strategy. The most common mistake I think is people playing outside their bankroll. I know how bad this is because I used to be guilty of it myself.

Lenny: What is an area of your own game that you want to improve? How do you plan to go about it?

herdgolf86: My game selection needs to improve. I definitely think I waste money in some tourneys that aren’t exactly profitable for me.

Lenny: Since you started playing what aspect of your game would you say has improved the most? How do you work on your game?

herdgolf86: The biggest help to my game has been talking poker and getting advice from hixx, another Pocketfives member. He has really helped me step up my game deep in tourneys and I am much better at closing out a win these days. With his help I pick up on betting patterns more quickly and it is easier for me to adjust my hand ranges in different situations.

Lenny: Which would be a bigger thrill for you, a PGA tour victory or a WSOP bracelet?

herdgolf86: Well, if you had asked me that a year ago I would have laughed and said PGA tour in an instant, but poker has become a much bigger part of my life now. I think I would be leaning towards a bracelet at this point.

Chris “herdgolf86” Tipper has shown quite a bit of promise at the poker table, and if he gets his wish to play a few events at the World Series of Poker this summer, we could be looking at another Pocketfiver with a bracelet. Tipper also seems grounded in reality and is to be commended for finishing school and not relying solely on poker for his future. We wish him the best of luck and continued success on and off the felt.