How Do You Play Pointing Poker?

Pointing poker is a simple yet effective way to estimate the size of software development tasks. The basic idea is that each developer holds up a card with a number on it, representing their estimate of the task’s size.

The numbers on the cards are then totaled, and the average is used as the estimate.

There are a few different ways to play pointing poker, but the most common is to use a deck of cards with numbers ranging from 1 to 21. Each player is dealt a hand of cards, and they must choose one to represent their estimate. The player with the highest estimate starts the bidding, and each subsequent player can either bid higher or pass.

PRO TIP:Pointing Poker is a great way to reach a consensus on estimating the effort for tasks in an Agile project. When playing, each participant should be given a stack of cards with numerical values (e.g. 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 20). The participants then take turns selecting a card to represent their estimated effort for the task being discussed. Once all participants have selected a card, the median value is used as the estimated effort for the task.

The bidding continues until all players have passed. The player with the highest bid wins the hand, and the task is assigned that size.

If you’re new to pointing poker, it can be helpful to start with smaller tasks so that you can get a feel for the game. Once you’re more comfortable, you can move on to larger tasks.

Remember, the goal is to come up with an accurate estimate, so don’t be afraid to adjust your bid based on what you think the task really entails.

Playing pointing poker is a great way to quickly get an estimate for a software development task. It’s simple to learn and can be played with just a deck of cards. Give it a try next time you need to come up with an estimate!.