June 15, 2026
What is Planning Poker? A Complete Guide for Agile Teams
Planning Poker is a consensus-based agile estimation technique. Learn how it works, why teams use it, and how to run your first session.
What is Planning Poker?
Planning Poker, also called Scrum Poker, is a collaborative estimation technique used by agile teams to size user stories. Each participant chooses a card privately, then everyone reveals at the same time.
The simultaneous reveal matters because it prevents anchoring bias. The first loud opinion does not pull the whole team toward one estimate.
How it works
- The Product Owner reads a clear user story.
- The team asks short clarifying questions.
- Each person selects a card privately.
- Cards are revealed together.
- Large differences are discussed and the team votes again.
Why teams use it
- It surfaces hidden complexity before work starts.
- It exposes unclear requirements early.
- It builds shared understanding across the team.
- It is more reliable than one-person estimates.
Story points and special cards
Most teams estimate with story points, usually using Fibonacci values such as 1, 2, 3, 5, 8 and 13. The ? card means the story is not understood well enough. A break or infinity card usually means the story is too large or needs refinement.