SprintPoker Game Modes Overview
This page explains the two game modes in SprintPoker - Poker and Async Poker. It helps you understand how each mode works, their key differences, and when to use them based on your team's needs, such as real-time collaboration vs. asynchronous flexibility.
🎮 Game Modes Overview
SprintPoker supports two powerful estimation modes designed to suit different team styles and workflows:
Poker Mode (Real-Time)
Async Mode (Asynchronous)
Each mode provides a unique flow for managing estimation sessions. Whether you're co-located or globally distributed, SprintPoker ensures efficient, structured, and insightful estimation for your backlog or sprint planning.
🔍 Key Differences at a Glance
Feature / Flow | Poker Mode (Real-Time) | Async Mode (Asynchronous) |
|---|---|---|
Moderator-led flow | Moderator controls issue order and estimation stages | Users select and estimate independently |
Best for | Live team estimation sessions (e.g., refinement calls) | Distributed teams estimating across time zones |
Estimation Stages |
| User picks issue → Estimates immediately |
Issue Assignment | Moderator selects next issue for group | Users free to estimate any issue at any time |
Commenting | No comments per issue during session | ✅ Users can add comments on each issue |
Vote Visibility | Hidden until revealed by moderator | Hidden until revealed by moderator |
Progress Indicator | Moderator sees who has/hasn’t voted | Estimation % shown on each issue (e.g. 3/6 have estimated) |
AI Estimation Hints | ✅ Moderator can trigger per issue | ✅ Moderator can trigger per issue |
Best used when... | Estimating together live, with discussion | Estimating asynchronously, then reviewing in sync later |
🧠 How to Choose
Use Poker Mode when:
Your team is in a meeting together
You want group discussion before/after estimation
Moderator needs full control of flow
You want synchronized decision-making
Use Async Mode when:
Your team is remote and in multiple time zones
You prefer collecting votes before reviewing together
You want users to estimate independently at their own pace
You want to allow detailed per-issue commentary during estimation
Async Poker Mode: Summary of estimations including comments
Async Mode adding comment, seeing % of users estimated:
Need help understanding other features? See:
👉 AI Insight Feature