Sleight of hand

Sleight of hand (also known as prestidigitation or legerdemain (listenⓘ)) refers to fine motor skills when used by performing artists in different art forms to entertain or manipulate.

Sleight of hand pioneers with worldwide acclaim include Dan and Dave, Ricky Jay, Derek DelGaudio, David Copperfield, Yann Frisch, Norbert Ferré, Dai Vernon, Jerry Sadowitz, Cardini, Tony Slydini, Helder Guimarães and Tom Mullica.

[3] A well-performed sleight looks like an ordinary, natural and completely innocent gesture, change in hand position or body posture.

[5] The most common magic tricks performed with sleight of hand on stage are rope manipulations and card tricks, with the first typically being done with a member of the audience to rule out the possibility of stooges and the latter primarily being done on a table while a camera is live-recording, allowing the rest of the audience to see the performance on a big screen.

[7] Although being mostly used for entertainment and comedy purposes, sleight of hand is also notoriously used to cheat at casinos and gambling facilities throughout the world.