4♥ 6♦ J♣ Q♣ + 5♦ cut = 9 points

What the 5 of diamonds contributes

Holding 4 of hearts, 6 of diamonds, jack of clubs, queen of clubs with the 5 of diamonds as the cut scores 9 points in the hand.

Scoring combinations involving the 5 of diamonds contribute 9 points. The remaining 0 points come from combinations entirely within the four held cards.

• fifteen: 5 of diamonds, jack of clubs — 2 points.
• fifteen: 5 of diamonds, queen of clubs — 2 points.
• fifteen: 4 of hearts, 5 of diamonds, 6 of diamonds — 2 points.
• run of three: 4 of hearts, 5 of diamonds, 6 of diamonds — 3 points.

Other available cuts of this rank: 5 of clubs (10 points); 5 of hearts (9 points); 5 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, 44 possible cuts score less than 9, 3 score the same (including the 5 of diamonds), and 1 score more.

Across all 48 possible cut cards, the score ranges from 0 to 10 points, averaging 2.48 points. This comparison treats every card outside the four-card hand as equally likely; it does not exclude known discards or other seen cards.