Sleight of hand
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Sleight of hand, also known as legerdemain, is the set of techniques used by a magician (or card sharks) to manipulate small objects such as cards and coins secretly. Sleight of hand is not a branch of magic, but rather, the means used by a magician to achieve various aims. The techniques involved are often difficult, taking months of practice before they can be performed with proficiency and years to master. Sleight of hand is mostly employed in close-up magic, but it can also be used in stage magic and other areas of magic. The techniques can also be used to cheat in gambling games, to steal, or, in some cases, to claim supernatural powers. For this reason the term frequently carries negative associations of deceit.
Shamans or medicine men often use sleight of hand to fool persons into believing that their magic is real.