A♦ 5♠ 8♦ 9♠ + 2♦ cut = 4 points

What the 2 of diamonds contributes

Holding ace of diamonds, 5 of spades, 8 of diamonds, 9 of spades with the 2 of diamonds as the cut scores 4 points in the hand.

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

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

Other available cuts of this rank: 2 of clubs (4 points); 2 of hearts (4 points); 2 of spades (4 points). Changing only the cut suit leaves this score unchanged.

How this cut compares

For these four held cards, 8 possible cuts score less than 4, 19 score the same (including the 2 of diamonds), and 21 score more.

Across all 48 possible cut cards, the score ranges from 2 to 8 points, averaging 4.83 points. This comparison treats every card outside the four-card hand as equally likely; it does not exclude known discards or other seen cards.