5♠ 6♠ 8♠ 9♠ + 2♦ cut = 8 points

What the 2 of diamonds contributes

Holding 5 of spades, 6 of spades, 8 of spades, 9 of spades with the 2 of diamonds as the cut scores 8 points in the hand.

Scoring combinations involving the 2 of diamonds contribute 2 points. The remaining 6 points come from combinations entirely within the four held cards.

• fifteen: 2 of diamonds, 5 of spades, 8 of spades — 2 points.

Other available cuts of this rank: 2 of clubs (8 points); 2 of hearts (8 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, 4 possible cuts score less than 8, 18 score the same (including the 2 of diamonds), and 26 score more.

Across all 48 possible cut cards, the score ranges from 6 to 14 points, averaging 9.35 points. This comparison treats every card outside the four-card hand as equally likely; it does not exclude known discards or other seen cards.