Brick
A community card that appears to help nobody at the table and doesn't complete any obvious draws.
iGaming Journalist & Crypto Casino Analyst
What Is Brick?
A brick is similar to a blank in that it's a seemingly inconsequential card, but the term is most often used specifically to describe a card that fails to complete a draw, such as an off-suit, disconnected card falling on the river after a flush or straight draw was possible. Players who missed their draw when a brick falls are left with little choice but to check or fold unless they can profitably bluff. The term carries a slightly more negative connotation than 'blank,' often used by a player describing their own missed draw.
Examples
A player on a flush draw sees a brick fall on the river, missing their hand entirely.
After two running bricks, a player's open-ended straight draw fails to complete by the river.
Strategy Tips
When a brick falls after you missed your draw, consider whether a bluff is viable based on how the brick interacts with your perceived range and your opponent's likely holdings. Don't automatically give up on a hand after a brick -- sometimes a well-timed bluff on a blank river can still win the pot. Recognize that from your opponent's perspective, a brick may still look like a scare card, creating bluffing opportunities. Track how often you brick out on draws to better calibrate your expected value calculations before calling with draws.