Jack needs pub to serve spirits (4)
I believe the answer is:
jinn
'serve spirits' is the definition.
'jinn' can be an answer for 'spirits' (jinni is a kind of spirit). I am not certain of the 'serve' bit.
'jack needs pub' is the wordplay.
'jack' becomes 'j' (playing card abbreviation).
'needs' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'pub' becomes 'inn' (I've seen this before).
'j'+'inn'='JINN'
'to' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for jinn that I've seen before include "spirits" , "spirit" .)