I built a web app to help preserve one of Jamaica’s favorite card games

Hi everyone,

I wanted to share a project that’s been very close to my heart.

After retiring last year following a 27-year career in securities regulation, I decided to spend my retirement building something that connected me back to my childhood in Jamaica.

Growing up, Kalooki was more than just a card game in my family. It was how we spent time together, laughed, competed, and created memories. Some of my favorite evenings were spent around the table playing with family, especially my Aunt Cheri, who absolutely loved the game.

I realized that while so many Jamaicans around the world still love Kalooki, it isn’t always easy to get a game together when your family is spread across different countries.

So I spent the last several months building Jakalooki, a web app that lets people play Jamaican Kalooki online.

You can play solo for free in your browser to learn the game or practice your skills. If you’d like to play with family and friends online, there are optional multiplayer plans that let you host private games with a simple game code.

This isn’t backed by a big gaming company—it’s a passion project built by someone who simply wanted to preserve a piece of Jamaican culture and make it easier for people to enjoy together, wherever they live.

If you’re interested, I’d love for you to check it out:

https://upperloftenterprises.com/jakalooki

I’d also love your feedback. If you grew up playing Kalooki, I’m especially interested in hearing your memories and any ideas you have for making the experience even better.

Thanks for taking the time to read this!