what mysql query is better?

Question

i got 2 mysql queries, that retrieve the same data?, what one do you think is better to use and why? taking into account standards, and better code etc. sorry if this is a stupid question, but im a curious cat! so here goes:

QUERY 1:

SELECT *
FROM
((
  SELECT u.username, u.picture, m.id, m.user_note, m.reply_id, m.reply_name, m.dt
  FROM   relationships r
  JOIN   notes m ON m.user_id = r.leader
  JOIN   user u ON r.leader = u.user_id
  WHERE  r.listener ='2'
)
UNION ALL
(
  SELECT u.username, u.picture, m.id, m.user_note, m.reply_id, m.reply_name, m.dt
  FROM   notes m
  JOIN   user u ON m.user_id = u.user_id
  WHERE  u.user_id ='2'
)) d
WHERE    d.dt < '2010-09-20_131830'
ORDER BY d.dt DESC

QUERY 2:

SELECT u.username, u.picture, m.id, m.user_note, m.reply_id, m.reply_name, m.dt
FROM notes m
INNER JOIN user u
ON m.user_id = u.user_id
WHERE (m.user_id = '2'
OR m.user_id IN (
   SELECT r.leader
   FROM relationships r
   WHERE r.listener ='2'))
AND dt < '2010-09-20_131830'
ORDER BY dt DESC

Answer 1

I find the UNION ALL version much easier to understand (that could be me offcourse) but I'd rewrite it as below.

Adding the AND m.dt < '2010-09-20_131830 to each part should give you a better performance.
You could run it a few times and verify if it makes a difference.

SELECT  u.username
        , u.picture
        , m.id
        , m.user_note
        , m.reply_id
        , m.reply_name
        , m.dt 
FROM    relationships r 
        INNER JOIN notes m ON m.user_id = r.leader 
        INNER JOIN user u ON r.leader = u.user_id 
WHERE   r.listener ='2' 
        AND m.dt < '2010-09-20_131830' 
UNION ALL 
SELECT  u.username
        , u.picture
        , m.id
        , m.user_note
        , m.reply_id
        , m.reply_name
        , m.dt 
FROM    notes m 
        INNER JOIN user u ON m.user_id = u.user_id 
WHERE   u.user_id ='2' 
        AND m.dt < '2010-09-20_131830' 
ORDER BY m.dt DESC