Which term refers to delicate skill and cleverness in achieving a goal?

The term that best captures the idea of delicate skill and cleverness in achieving a goal is "finesse." Finesse refers to the ability to handle situations with subtlety and grace, often requiring a combination of skill, tact, and intelligence. It implies not just executing a task well but doing so in a sophisticated and skillful manner that reflects careful planning and cleverness.

Cunning, while it can denote cleverness, often has a negative connotation associated with deceit or trickery, which does not align with the idea of achieving a goal with grace and skill. Strategy encompasses the broader planning and tactics that one might use to reach a goal but does not specifically refer to the delicate skill or the cleverness in the execution of these plans. Skill is a more general term that refers to the ability to perform a task well, but it lacks the connotations of subtlety and cleverness that are integral to finesse. Therefore, "finesse" is the most appropriate term in this context.