It is my understanding that the select subquery in parentheses on table1 would run once for every record selected in the outer select from table2. If that is in fact true, even though your alternative may be easier to code or more clear to read, it would be way less efficient (and therefore slower) than a join. By the way, the fact that Bret and I work together has nothing to do with it. Honest (as Bret slips me $5). I just wanted to mention that for you to consider.