mysql> explain select count(*) from cases c, cases_cstm cc WHERE c.status = 'Resolved' AND cc.case_source_c = 'email' AND c.resolution IS NULL; +----+-------------+-------+------+-----------------+---------------+---------+-------------+-------+-------------+ | id | select_type | table | type | possible_keys | key | key_len | ref | rows | Extra | +----+-------------+-------+------+-----------------+---------------+---------+-------------+-------+-------------+ | 1 | SIMPLE | c | ref | status,status_2 | status_2 | 27 | const,const | 7444 | Using where | | 1 | SIMPLE | cc | ref | case_source_c | case_source_c | 9 | const | 13956 | Using where | +----+-------------+-------+------+-----------------+---------------+---------+-------------+-------+-------------+ 2 rows in set (0.00 sec)