A♦ 6♠ 7♥ 8♥ + 2♦ cut = 9 points

What the 2 of diamonds contributes

Holding ace of diamonds, 6 of spades, 7 of hearts, 8 of hearts with the 2 of diamonds as the cut scores 9 points in the hand.

Scoring combinations involving the 2 of diamonds contribute 2 points. The remaining 7 points come from combinations entirely within the four held cards.

• fifteen: 2 of diamonds, 6 of spades, 7 of hearts — 2 points.

Other available cuts of this rank: 2 of clubs (9 points); 2 of hearts (9 points); 2 of spades (9 points). Changing only the cut suit leaves this score unchanged.

How this cut compares

For these four held cards, 28 possible cuts score less than 9, 4 score the same (including the 2 of diamonds), and 16 score more.

Across all 48 possible cut cards, the score ranges from 7 to 16 points, averaging 9.44 points. This comparison treats every card outside the four-card hand as equally likely; it does not exclude known discards or other seen cards.