3♦ 4♥ 8♠ J♥ + 9♥ cut = 3 points

What the 9 of hearts contributes

Holding 3 of diamonds, 4 of hearts, 8 of spades, jack of hearts with the 9 of hearts as the cut scores 3 points in the hand.

Scoring combinations involving the 9 of hearts contribute 1 points. The remaining 2 points come from combinations entirely within the four held cards.

• his nob: jack of hearts, 9 of hearts — 1 point.

Other available cuts of this rank: 9 of clubs (2 points); 9 of diamonds (2 points); 9 of spades (2 points). The cut suit changes the score here because of a flush or nobs.

How this cut compares

For these four held cards, 15 possible cuts score less than 3, 5 score the same (including the 9 of hearts), and 28 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.