3♦ 4♦ 5♦ 8♦ + A♦ cut = 10 points

What the ace of diamonds contributes

Holding 3 of diamonds, 4 of diamonds, 5 of diamonds, 8 of diamonds with the ace of diamonds as the cut scores 10 points in the hand.

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

• Flush 5-card: 3 of diamonds, 4 of diamonds, 5 of diamonds, 8 of diamonds, ace of diamonds — 5 points.

Other available cuts of this rank: ace of clubs (9 points); ace of hearts (9 points); ace of spades (9 points). The cut suit changes the score here because of a flush or nobs.

How this cut compares

For these four held cards, 6 possible cuts score less than 10, 2 score the same (including the ace of diamonds), and 40 score more.

Across all 48 possible cut cards, the score ranges from 9 to 18 points, averaging 12.25 points. This comparison treats every card outside the four-card hand as equally likely; it does not exclude known discards or other seen cards.