JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<script src="http://ajax.microsoft.com/ajax/jquery.validate/1.7/jquery.validate.js"></script>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jqueryui/1.8.4/themes/ui-lightness/jquery-ui.css">
<table>
<tr>
    <td>John</td>
    <td>Smith</td>
    <td>Male</td>
</tr>
<tr>
    <td>Andy</td>
    <td>Gates</td>
    <td>Male</td>
</tr>
<tr>
    <td>Alice</td>
    <td>Nixon</td>
    <td>Female</td>
</tr>
</table>

JavaScript

var x = "Andy";
var y = "Gates";

var res = $("td:first-child:contains(" + x + ") + td:contains(" + y + ")");

alert(res.length);