Daring moves — key, a spade finesse (9)

'daring moves' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both acts as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?

'key a spade finesse' is the wordplay.
'key' becomes 'esc' ('Escape' key on a computer keyboard).
'finesse' is an anagram indicator (letters finessed into a new form).
'spade' with letters rearranged gives 'pades'.
'esc'+'a'+'pades'='ESCAPADES'

Can you help me to learn more?