JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

JavaScript

$(document).keydown(function(e){
    if (e.keyCode == 37) { 
        move("West");
        return false;
    }
    if (e.keyCode == 38) { 
        move("North");
        return false;
    }
    if (e.keyCode == 39) { 
        move("East");
        return false;
    }
    if (e.keyCode == 40) { 
        move("South");
        return false;
    }
});

$(document).keyup(function(e){
    var xhr;
    while(xhr = move.ajaxStack.shift()) {
        xhr.abort();
    }
});

function move(newDirection)
{
    var direction = newDirection;

    move.ajaxStack.push($.ajax({
        type: "POST",
        url: "ajax/map.php",
        data: { direction: direction },
        success: function(data) {
            $('#content').html(data);
        }
    }));
}

move.ajaxStack = [];