A probability is simply a measure of how likely something is to happen. In the realm of gambling, probabilities are used to calculate the chances of winning or losing a game.
There are three primary ways to calculate probabilities in blackjack: the relative probability, the mathematical probability, and the empirical probability.
The relative probability is simply the percentage of times that a particular outcome will occur. For example, if you have a hand consisting of an Ace and two face cards (2s, 3s, 4s), the relative probability of blackjack being played is 50 percent (since two out of three hands played will be this combination).
The mathematical probability is a more complex calculation that takes into account all possible outcomes. For example, if you have a hand consisting of an Ace and two face cards (2s, 3s, 4s), the mathematical probability of blackjack being played is 16.
7 percent (since this hand has a 1 in 5 chance of being played).
The empirical probability is simply a calculation based on historical data. For example, if you have a hand consisting of an Ace and two face cards (2s, 3s, 4s), the empirical probability of blackjack being played is about 33 percent (based on data from recent casino games).
