A♥ 4♥ 7♣ J♠ + 2♠ cut = 3 points

What the 2 of spades contributes

Holding ace of hearts, 4 of hearts, 7 of clubs, jack of spades with the 2 of spades as the cut scores 3 points in the hand.

Scoring combinations involving the 2 of spades contribute 1 points. The remaining 2 points come from combinations entirely within the four held cards.

• his nob: jack of spades, 2 of spades — 1 point.

Other available cuts of this rank: 2 of clubs (2 points); 2 of diamonds (2 points); 2 of hearts (2 points). The cut suit changes the score here because of a flush or nobs.

How this cut compares

For these four held cards, 9 possible cuts score less than 3, 3 score the same (including the 2 of spades), and 36 score more.

Across all 48 possible cut cards, the score ranges from 2 to 9 points, averaging 4.38 points. This comparison treats every card outside the four-card hand as equally likely; it does not exclude known discards or other seen cards.