3♣ 4♥ 7♥ 9♦ + 5♦ cut = 5 points

What the 5 of diamonds contributes

Holding 3 of clubs, 4 of hearts, 7 of hearts, 9 of diamonds with the 5 of diamonds as the cut scores 5 points in the hand.

Scoring combinations involving the 5 of diamonds contribute 5 points. The remaining 0 points come from combinations entirely within the four held cards.

• fifteen: 3 of clubs, 5 of diamonds, 7 of hearts — 2 points.
• run of three: 3 of clubs, 4 of hearts, 5 of diamonds — 3 points.

Other available cuts of this rank: 5 of clubs (5 points); 5 of hearts (5 points); 5 of spades (5 points). Changing only the cut suit leaves this score unchanged.

How this cut compares

For these four held cards, 36 possible cuts score less than 5, 8 score the same (including the 5 of diamonds), and 4 score more.

Across all 48 possible cut cards, the score ranges from 0 to 7 points, averaging 2.50 points. This comparison treats every card outside the four-card hand as equally likely; it does not exclude known discards or other seen cards.