Commonly Misused Terms in Planning Poker - What They Really Mean

If you’ve ever stumbled across terms like “poker planning” or “backlog refinement poker” and wondered, “Are these just creative variations of Planning Poker, or am I missing out on a new agile technique?” — you’re not alone!

Planning Poker, also known as Scrum Poker or Agile Poker, is one of those techniques with many names (and misspellings!). Whether you're a seasoned Scrum Master or new to the world of agile, understanding these terms can be useful. In this post, we’ll break down these often misused and misspelled terms so you know exactly what they mean and why they all point back to the same technique.

1. PlanningPoker (aka Planning Poker)

Let’s start with the classic! PlanningPoker (sometimes spelled as a single word, “planningpoker”) is a consensus-based estimation technique used primarily in Scrum and Agile development. The team gathers to estimate the effort required to complete tasks using a deck of cards, with each card representing an estimate of the task’s size or complexity. It’s all about collaboration and reducing bias during sprint planning.

Need a refresher on how PlanningPoker works? Check out our comprehensive guide to Planning Poker.

2. Poker Planning

At first glance, poker planning sounds like it might be a new form of card game strategy, but don’t be fooled! It’s just a flip of words that refers to the exact same thing: Planning Poker. If you’re seeing “poker planning” in an agile context, rest assured — it’s still the same team-based estimation game.

We’ve got more on how to avoid common pitfalls when using the Planning Poker technique in our blog post.

3. Scrum Poker

Scrum Poker is simply another name for Planning Poker, often used when teams want to emphasize the technique's connection to the Scrum framework. In Scrum, estimating the size of backlog items is a key part of the sprint planning process. And since Planning Poker is one of the most popular methods for doing that, the name Scrum Poker came into use.

Need help running a Scrum planning session? We’ve got you covered with our guide of the top tools for SCRUM Masters.

4. Agile Poker

Much like Scrum Poker, Agile Poker is just a variation in name. Teams outside of Scrum, following broader agile methodologies, often use this term. Whether you’re following Kanban, Lean, or XP, Agile Poker fits right in. The process is still the same: gather the team, estimate tasks, and have a bit of fun while doing it.

5. Backlog Refinement Poker

Now, this term, Backlog Refinement Poker, gives a clue about when teams use Planning Poker. During backlog refinement sessions, teams go through the backlog of tasks and estimate their size. Playing Planning Poker at this stage helps ensure everyone is on the same page about the effort needed before tasks enter a sprint.

Need to know more about backlog refinement and how to make it more effective? Check out our post on integrating JIRA with Planning Poker.

6. Pocker Planning

Ah yes, the classic typo: Pocker Planning! If you’ve ever typed "pocker" instead of "poker," you’re not alone. But rest assured, Pocker Planning is still Planning Poker with an extra dash of creativity (or a finger slip). While the typo is common, it’s always fun to see how even small mistakes can give familiar terms a whole new vibe.

For a typo-free overview of how to make your next sprint planning session a success, head over to our guide to all roles in a Planning Poker session.

7. Sprint Poker

Much like "Scrum Poker," Sprint Poker refers to using Planning Poker during a sprint planning meeting. This term emphasizes the technique’s use during the sprint phase of agile development, which is when tasks are estimated and prioritized. It's especially useful if you want to rank for sprint-related keywords.

8. Estimation Poker

Some teams refer to Planning Poker as Estimation Poker to focus on its core purpose: task estimation. This variation highlights the fact that the primary goal of the technique is to assign effort values to tasks, making it applicable to different stages of the agile workflow, not just sprint planning.

9. Fibonacci Poker

Occasionally, you might hear Fibonacci Poker mentioned. This term arises because Planning Poker often uses Fibonacci sequence numbers (1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, etc.) for estimates. The Fibonacci sequence helps teams keep estimates reasonable and avoids over-complicating task sizing.

10. Story Point Poker

Sometimes referred to as Story Point Poker, this term zeroes in on the story point estimation system often used with Planning Poker. Story points are a popular unit for measuring the effort required for backlog items in agile teams.

So, What's the Difference?

In the end, whether you call it PlanningPoker, Poker Planning, Scrum Poker, or even Pocker Planning, they all refer to the same technique: a fun, collaborative way to estimate effort and complexity in Agile teams. While the names may differ, the core process remains the same.

So, next time you see these terms thrown around, feel free to jump into the conversation knowing that you’re all talking about the same thing — even if the spelling is a little off.

If you’re ready to use Planning Poker in your next sprint, why not try it out in Microsoft Teams, Google Meet or explore the PlanningPoker.live app to integrate it directly into your remote meetings?

Happy estimating!