create table t1 (f1 char(4) primary key) engine=innodb charset=utf8 ; insert into t1 values ('aaaa'); create table t2 (f2 text, f3 char(4) not null) engine=innodb charset=utf8 ; create table t3 (id int not null) engine=innodb charset=utf8 ; create table t4 (val int not null) engine=innodb charset=utf8; explain select 1 from (select f2, f3, val, count(id) from t4 join t2 left join t3 on 0) top join t1 on f1 = f3 where f3 = 'aaaa' order by val; id select_type table type possible_keys key key_len ref rows Extra 1 PRIMARY t1 const PRIMARY PRIMARY 12 const 1 Using index 1 PRIMARY ref key0 key0 13 const 0 Using where; Using filesort 2 DERIVED t4 ALL NULL NULL NULL NULL 1 2 DERIVED t2 ALL NULL NULL NULL NULL 1 Using join buffer (flat, BNL join) 2 DERIVED t3 ALL NULL NULL NULL NULL 1 Using where; Using join buffer (incremental, BNL join) select 1 from (select f2, f3, val, count(id) from t4 join t2 left join t3 on 0) top join t1 on f1 = f3 where f3 = 'aaaa' order by val; 1 drop table t1, t2, t3, t4;