Free Planning Poker by TeamRetro

Planning Poker is an agile estimation technique where team members assign story points to user stories based on their complexity, effort, and uncertainty—helping teams plan sprints more accurately. It promotes team consensus and surfaces differing perspectives early.

1) The Product Owner presents a user story.
2) The team asks clarifying questions.
3) Each member privately selects a card representing their estimate.
4) All cards are revealed simultaneously.
5) If estimates differ, the team discusses and re-votes until consensus is reached.

Story points are an abstract measure of effort, risk, and complexity—not time. In Planning Poker, team members vote using story point values to estimate how challenging a user story is relative to other stories the team has completed.

The Fibonacci sequence reflects increasing uncertainty as tasks grow larger. The widening gaps force teams to acknowledge that large stories are harder to estimate precisely, encouraging them to break down big items into smaller, more predictable pieces.

Use an online Planning Poker tool where team members join a shared room, vote secretly, and reveal estimates together. Screen sharing, video calls, and chat help replicate the collaborative discussion that happens in person.

Yes—anonymous voting prevents anchoring bias and groupthink. When votes are hidden until everyone has chosen, junior members aren’t influenced by senior voices, and each perspective is weighted equally before discussion begins.

Wide variance signals misunderstanding or hidden complexity. Have the highest and lowest voters explain their reasoning—often they’ve spotted risks or assumptions others missed. Discuss, clarify, and re-vote until the team aligns.

Typically the Scrum Master facilitates to keep time and ensure everyone participates. The Product Owner presents stories and answers questions but shouldn’t vote. Some teams rotate facilitation to build shared ownership.

Aim for 1–2 hours max. Estimate 5–10 stories per session depending on complexity. If discussions run long, it often means stories need more refinement before estimation. Take breaks to maintain focus and energy.

You can invite others by sharing the room link to your private planning poker session.

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