7♥ 8♣ 8♥ 8♠ + 9♥ cut = 21 points

What the 9 of hearts contributes

Holding 7 of hearts, 8 of clubs, 8 of hearts, 8 of spades with the 9 of hearts as the cut scores 21 points in the hand.

Scoring combinations involving the 9 of hearts contribute 9 points. The remaining 12 points come from combinations entirely within the four held cards.

• run of three: 7 of hearts, 8 of clubs, 9 of hearts — 3 points.
• run of three: 7 of hearts, 8 of hearts, 9 of hearts — 3 points.
• run of three: 7 of hearts, 8 of spades, 9 of hearts — 3 points.

Other available cuts of this rank: 9 of clubs (21 points); 9 of diamonds (21 points); 9 of spades (21 points). Changing only the cut suit leaves this score unchanged.

How this cut compares

For these four held cards, 40 possible cuts score less than 21, 8 score the same (including the 9 of hearts), and 0 score more.

Across all 48 possible cut cards, the score ranges from 12 to 21 points, averaging 14.17 points. This comparison treats every card outside the four-card hand as equally likely; it does not exclude known discards or other seen cards.