5♠ 6♦ 6♠ J♠ + 9♠ cut = 9 points

What the 9 of spades contributes

Holding 5 of spades, 6 of diamonds, 6 of spades, jack of spades with the 9 of spades as the cut scores 9 points in the hand.

Scoring combinations involving the 9 of spades contribute 5 points. The remaining 4 points come from combinations entirely within the four held cards.

• fifteen: 6 of diamonds, 9 of spades — 2 points.
• fifteen: 6 of spades, 9 of spades — 2 points.
• his nob: jack of spades, 9 of spades — 1 point.

Other available cuts of this rank: 9 of clubs (8 points); 9 of diamonds (8 points); 9 of hearts (8 points). The cut suit changes the score here because of a flush or nobs.

How this cut compares

For these four held cards, 39 possible cuts score less than 9, 1 score the same (including the 9 of spades), and 8 score more.

Across all 48 possible cut cards, the score ranges from 4 to 15 points, averaging 7.21 points. This comparison treats every card outside the four-card hand as equally likely; it does not exclude known discards or other seen cards.