3♣ 9♣ J♣ Q♠ + 2♦ cut = 4 points

What the 2 of diamonds contributes

Holding 3 of clubs, 9 of clubs, jack of clubs, queen of spades with the 2 of diamonds as the cut scores 4 points in the hand.

Scoring combinations involving the 2 of diamonds contribute 4 points. The remaining 0 points come from combinations entirely within the four held cards.

• fifteen: 2 of diamonds, 3 of clubs, jack of clubs — 2 points.
• fifteen: 2 of diamonds, 3 of clubs, queen of spades — 2 points.

Other available cuts of this rank: 2 of clubs (5 points); 2 of hearts (4 points); 2 of spades (4 points). The cut suit changes the score here because of a flush or nobs.

How this cut compares

For these four held cards, 32 possible cuts score less than 4, 13 score the same (including the 2 of diamonds), and 3 score more.

Across all 48 possible cut cards, the score ranges from 0 to 5 points, averaging 2.25 points. This comparison treats every card outside the four-card hand as equally likely; it does not exclude known discards or other seen cards.