A collaborative estimation technique where team members simultaneously reveal their story point estimates using cards, then discuss differences before converging on a consensus estimate. It prevents anchoring bias and encourages participation from all team members.
Created by James Grenning in 2002 and popularized by Mike Cohn. Combines 'planning' from Latin 'planus' (flat, clear) and 'poker' from the card game, referencing the simultaneous reveal of cards that prevents influence bias.
Planning poker works because it exploits a cognitive bias called 'anchoring'—when people hear the first estimate, they unconsciously adjust their own estimate toward that number. The simultaneous reveal prevents this psychological contamination!
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