5♥ J♦ Q♦ K♠ + 2♦ cut = 10 points

What the 2 of diamonds contributes

Holding 5 of hearts, jack of diamonds, queen of diamonds, king of spades with the 2 of diamonds as the cut scores 10 points in the hand.

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

• his nob: jack of diamonds, 2 of diamonds — 1 point.

Other available cuts of this rank: 2 of clubs (9 points); 2 of hearts (9 points); 2 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, 24 possible cuts score less than 10, 8 score the same (including the 2 of diamonds), and 16 score more.

Across all 48 possible cut cards, the score ranges from 9 to 18 points, averaging 11.29 points. This comparison treats every card outside the four-card hand as equally likely; it does not exclude known discards or other seen cards.