SQL: Combine multiple columns into one for sorting (output only)

You may want to use the GREATEST() function:

With two or more arguments, returns the largest (maximum-valued) argument.

This code snippet does what you wanted for score2 and score3 columns in your example:

SELECT name, GREATEST( score2, score3 ) AS max_score, rating
FROM db
ORDER BY max_score DESC , rating DESC

Orders by combined scores, and if they are equal then orders by result (both highest to lowest).

For more columns, simply add them as arguments to GREATEST() function.

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