scrum-poker.dev

How to Use Scrum Poker

Scrum Poker online is the fastest way for agile teams — remote, hybrid, or in-person — to reach consensus on story point estimates during sprint planning. No installs, no accounts, no friction.

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What is Scrum Poker?

Scrum Poker (also called Planning Poker) is a consensus-based agile estimation technique used during sprint planning. Each team member privately selects a card representing their effort estimate — typically using the modified Fibonacci sequence (0, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13…) — and all cards are revealed at the same time.

Simultaneous reveal prevents anchoring bias: nobody is swayed by what others picked before they commit to their own estimate. Disagreements surface hidden complexity, lead to better conversations, and ultimately produce more accurate backlogs.

When to Use Scrum Poker

  • Sprint Planning: Estimate the user stories selected for the upcoming sprint.
  • Backlog Refinement: Size newly created or newly clarified backlog items before they enter the sprint.
  • Story Mapping: Quickly rank relative complexity across the entire product backlog.
  • Release Forecasting: Use velocity (points per sprint) to project delivery timelines.

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. 1

    Create a Room

    Go to scrum-poker.dev and click "Create Room". Choose your estimation scale (Modified Fibonacci is the agile standard), configure the auto-reveal timer, and set your tie-breaking rounding preference in Advanced settings.

    💡The auto-reveal timer starts a countdown the moment the first vote is cast — perfect for keeping ceremonies timeboxed.
  2. 2

    Invite Your Team

    Copy the unique room link from your browser and share it via Slack, Teams, or any chat tool. No sign-up or account is needed — teammates simply open the link, enter a display name, and join instantly.

    💡Spectators (e.g. product managers, stakeholders) can join without voting by ticking "Join as Spectator".
  3. 3

    Start Voting

    Type the current story or task into the task field (e.g. "TEAM-1234"). Each participant privately selects a card that represents their effort estimate. Votes are hidden until reveal time.

    💡Use the "?" card when the scope is unclear. Use "☕" to signal you need a break before estimating.
  4. 4

    Reveal Cards

    Click "Reveal Votes" or let the auto-reveal timer count down to zero. All votes appear at once. The app instantly calculates the average and the nearest consensus value on your chosen scale.

    💡If votes diverge significantly (e.g. 2 vs 13), let the outliers explain their reasoning before re-voting.
  5. 5

    Discuss and Repeat

    If the team hasn't reached consensus, discuss the diverging estimates, break the story down if needed, then click "Reset Round" to vote again. Repeat until everyone aligns on a value.

    💡Two rounds is usually enough. If it takes more, the story probably needs splitting.

Tips for Better Estimation

Estimate relative complexity, not hours

Story Points measure effort and uncertainty relative to other tasks — not calendar time. Anchor on a small, well-understood story as your baseline.

Use the Fibonacci scale

The increasing gaps between numbers (1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13…) naturally reflect the growing uncertainty of larger tasks. Avoid estimating in hours.

Keep rounds short

Enable the auto-reveal timer (30–60 s) to prevent analysis paralysis. The timer starts ticking once the first vote is cast.

Let outliers speak first

After reveal, invite the highest and lowest voters to share their perspective before the group discusses. This surfaces hidden risks and assumptions.

Split stories that land on 13+

Consistently high estimates signal a story is too large. Break it into smaller, independently deliverable pieces.

Use Spectator mode for observers

Product managers, designers, and stakeholders can join as spectators to follow along without influencing the vote.

Scrum Poker for Remote Teams

Running planning poker online with distributed teams introduces two challenges: coordination overhead and anchoring bias during async discussion. scrum-poker.dev is built to eliminate both.

  • ✓Zero-latency real-time sync: Votes broadcast instantly via a globally distributed edge network — no perceptible delay regardless of where your team sits.
  • ✓No login friction: Share a link in Slack or Teams. Your team is in the room within 10 seconds.
  • ✓Auto-reveal timer: Start a countdown the moment the first vote is cast. This replaces the social pressure of "is everyone ready?" and keeps sessions on schedule.
  • ✓Multiple estimation scales: Switch between Modified Fibonacci, T-Shirt Sizes, Powers of 2, or Linear 1–10 mid-session — useful when different parts of the backlog need different scales.
  • ✓Spectator mode: Product owners and designers can follow the session without influencing votes.

FAQ

Do I need to create an account?
No. scrum-poker.dev requires zero sign-up. Share the room link and your team joins in seconds.
Which estimation scales are supported?
Modified Fibonacci (the agile standard), T-Shirt Sizes (XS–XXL), Powers of 2, and a Linear 1–10 scale. You can switch scales mid-session from the room settings.
What is the auto-reveal timer?
An optional countdown (default 30 s, adjustable 5–120 s) that automatically reveals votes after the first person votes, keeping planning ceremonies timeboxed.
What is tie-breaking rounding?
When the average falls exactly between two deck values, the app rounds to the nearest card. You choose Round Down (conservative) or Round Up (optimistic) when creating the room.
Can remote and hybrid teams use it?
Yes — it was built specifically for distributed teams. Votes sync in real-time via a globally distributed edge network with zero latency.
Is it free?
Completely free, with no limits on team size or sessions.

More questions? See the full FAQ or contact us.

Ready to estimate smarter?

Create a free room in seconds — no account required. Your whole team can join with just a link.

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