Crossword Genius

Bridge player's joke, pocketing ace and hiding jack (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

east

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'bridge player's' is the definition.
(name given to one player in the card game bridge)

'joke pocketing ace and hiding jack' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'ace' could be 'a' (abbreviation) and 'a' is found in the answer.
The remaining letters 'est' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for east that I've seen before include "Asia" , "E" , "Cardinal compass point" , "Direction of the rising sun" , "One regularly holding hands" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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