Finesse vs. Panache — What's the Difference?

In contract bridge and similar games, a finesse is a card play technique which will enable a player to win an additional trick or tricks should there be a favorable position of one or more cards in the hands of the opponents. The player attempts to win either the current trick or a later trick with a card of the suit he leads notwithstanding that the opponents hold a higher card in the suit; the attempt is based on the assumption that the higher card is held by a particular opponent.

Panache (French pronunciation: ​[panaʃ]) is a word of French origin that carries the connotation of flamboyant manner and reckless courage, derived from the helmet-plume worn by cavalrymen in the Early Modern period.The literal translation is a plume, such as is worn on a hat or a helmet; the reference is to King Henry IV of France (13 December 1553 – 14 May 1610), a pleasure-loving and cynical military leader, famed for wearing a striking white plume in his helmet and for his war cry: "Follow my white plume!" (French: "Ralliez-vous à mon panache blanc!").

Refinement and delicacy of performance, execution, or artisanship.

Dash; verve.

Skillful, subtle handling of a situation; tactful, diplomatic maneuvering.

A bunch of feathers or a plume, especially on a helmet.

A method of leading up to a tenace, as in bridge, in order to prevent an opponent from winning the trick with an intermediate card.

(countable) An ornamental plume on a helmet.

A stratagem in which one appears to decline an advantage.

Flamboyance, energetic style or action.

To accomplish by the use of finesse.

A plume or bunch of feathers, esp. such a bunch worn on the helmet; any military plume, or ornamental group of feathers.

To handle with a deceptive or evasive strategy.

A pleasingly flamboyant style or manner; flair{4}; verve.

To play (a card) as a finesse.

Distinctive and stylish elegance;

To use finesse.

A feathered plume on a helmet

To make a finesse in cards.

(uncountable) Skill in the handling or manipulation of a situation.

(uncountable) The property of having elegance, grace, refinement, or skill.

(countable) An adroit manoeuvre.

In bridge, whist, etc.: a technique which allows one to win a trick, usually by playing a card when it is thought that a card that can beat it is held by another player whose turn is over.

To evade (a problem, situation, etc.) by using some clever argument or stratagem.

(ambitransitive) To handle or manage carefully or skilfully; to manipulate in a crafty way.

To obtain something from someone through trickery or manipulation.

To attempt to win a trick by finessing.

To play (a card) as a finesse.

To play a ball out of the way of an opponent.

Subtilty of contrivance to gain a point; artifice; stratagem.

To use artifice or stratagem.

To attempt, when second or third player, to make a lower card answer the purpose of a higher, when an intermediate card is out, risking the chance of its being held by the opponent yet to play.

Subtly skillful handling of a situation