3♦ 4♥ 8♠ J♥ + 2♦ cut = 7 points

What the 2 of diamonds contributes

Holding 3 of diamonds, 4 of hearts, 8 of spades, jack of hearts with the 2 of diamonds as the cut scores 7 points in the hand.

Scoring combinations involving the 2 of diamonds contribute 5 points. The remaining 2 points come from combinations entirely within the four held cards.

• fifteen: 2 of diamonds, 3 of diamonds, jack of hearts — 2 points.
• run of three: 2 of diamonds, 3 of diamonds, 4 of hearts — 3 points.

Other available cuts of this rank: 2 of clubs (7 points); 2 of hearts (8 points); 2 of spades (7 points). The cut suit changes the score here because of a flush or nobs.

How this cut compares

For these four held cards, 38 possible cuts score less than 7, 8 score the same (including the 2 of diamonds), and 2 score more.

Across all 48 possible cut cards, the score ranges from 2 to 8 points, averaging 4.27 points. This comparison treats every card outside the four-card hand as equally likely; it does not exclude known discards or other seen cards.