You have the $100 buy-in, a bottle of choice liquor, and a free pass from home to go spend the night in a lively poker room otherwise known as Joe’s three-car garage. One thing that could make this even better… premium cigars.

Maybe you have been smoking cigars feverishly for decades or this is your rare opportunity to light one up. Either way, at CIGAR.com we’re here to help you make the best decision when selecting cigars to pair with a night of poker so you do not have to rely on the luck of the draw.

When helping our clients select cigars for a specific occasion we like to consider a few key variables. One, how much time do you have? This includes the time of day, total duration, and how much time you have to focus on the cigar itself. 

Two, who are you spending time with? If you are with a group of old friends vs. new colleagues it may impact what cigars you bring. Three, how cigar friendly is the location? It may be on you to make it cigar friendly by bringing along an ashtray, cutter, and lighter to be sure you can enjoy a cigar comfortably.

Applying the variables above to poker night looks something like this.

Time for a Premium Cigar?

You have at least 3 hours for Poker Night, it is after dinner, and you plan to play cards and check your friends first, and your cigar second. Perfect, this means you can light up a larger cigar like a Churchill, Double Toro, or Gordo. Since it is night and you are coming on a full stomach, it’s the perfect time to select a stronger blend based on your preferences. 

Last, you focus on poker first so this is not the best time to light up a rare or limited edition blend you saved for 3 years. Instead, you want something more standard issue that stays lit, tastes enjoyable, and be available for seconds if you find yourself at the final table.

The Company You Keep

It doesn’t matter if you're with old friends or new acquaintances, if you are having a good time enjoying a cigar, chances are someone will ask you what you are smoking and if they can have one too.

For this reason, we don’t recommend choosing from the top-shelf for Poker Night unless you’re the person who wins every week and need a way to keep people coming back to donate, or this is a one-time occasion and you don’t mind handing out $20 cigars to folks who may not appreciate the difference. If you have to show-off we have you covered. Check out the best of the best here.

Location, Location, Location

Depending on if you’re playing inside vs. outside makes a difference on your cigar choice. If enjoying something infused like ACID Cigars by Drew Estate,

1. La Gloria Cubana Serie R

2. Camacho Connecticut Churchill

3. CAO Session

4. Diesel Unlimited

Recommended vitola: d.6

5. Macanudo Café

Recommended vitola: Prince Phillip (Churchill) (7.5"x49)

Don’t miss out on the best cigars for poker night. Take a look at our cigar selection guide.