Card flourishes is the term for visual displays of skill performed with playing cards designed to show the skill or manual dexterity of a 'Flourisher'. Card flourishes are primarily intended to be visually fascinating and to appear difficult to do.

Card flourishes for magicians can be divided into many genres: one-handed cuts, spreads, two-handed cuts, fanning, aerials, and springs. Card flourishes are performed both as part of magic performances and on their own. Card Flourishes and Card Manipulation are considered as art forms, and many people all over the world practice them religiously. Many famous flourishers would be Dan Buck, Dave Buck, Michael Herp, Daniel Madison. Though there are countless flourishing moves, the most common method of learning the art is through DVDs, books, free tutorials on the internet, private one-on-one sessions as well as privately produced instructional videos. Although Card Flourishing is still considered to be a rare skill or hobby, there has been a large spark in widespread interest over the past decade. As a result, there is significantly more informational material available on the market today for those interested.

Along with the cardistry community - many websites are available to not only keep users in touch with the community but also teach them and help advance the art. Some of these more popular websites included TheCardist, Theory11, Kardistry, and UnitedCardists

Terminology

• Packet - Any amount of cards separate from the rest of the deck, the word "packet" can also mean the deck itself.
• Card cut
  Cut (cards)
  After a deck of cards is shuffled by the dealer, it is often given to a player other than the one who performed the shuffle for a procedure called a cut.- Procedure :...
  
   - Any move that cuts the cards, which means to switch or re-arrange the positions of two or more packets of cards.
• False Cut - A move that cuts the cards without switching or re-arranging the positions of the cards.
• Display - A display of packets, single cards or fans, usually held still, then closed.
• Shuffle - Any move that mixes the cards thoroughly, this is different from a card cut because a card cut mixes larger packets of cards, but a shuffle usually mixes 1-2 cards on top of another all the way through the deck.
• False Shuffle - A shuffle that uses prestidigitation
  Sleight of hand
  Sleight of hand, also known as prestidigitation or legerdemain, is the set of techniques used by a magician to manipulate objects such as cards and coins secretly....
  
   to keep the cards in the original order, prior to initiating the shuffle.
• Grip - The way the deck is held in the hand.
• Long sides of the deck - The sides of the deck that are longer than the other two sides.
• Short sides of the deck - The sides of the deck that are shorter than the other two sides.
• Mechanic's grip
  Mechanic's Grip
  The Mechanic's Grip is one of many ways to comfortably hold a deck of cards. The mechanic's grip is a standard grip utilized primarily by magicians and card cheaters as it allows a sturdy and versatile means by which to hold the cards...
  
  - A way of holding the deck where it lies across your palm, and the index finger is on one short side of the deck, the other fingers are on the long side next to it, and the thumb is lying across the other long side of the deck.
• Biddle Grip - Another way of holding the deck, in which the palm is face down, the 2nd and 3rd fingers are at the top short edge of the deck, and the thumb is at the bottom short edge of the deck holding it in position.