Mysql inner join twice and use WHERE on both joins -

in mysql, want select a.* a inner join condition satisfied whether directly (joining table b) or through join table (c), where b.field = myvalue. can point out proper way results?

i have following tables: a, b, c, associated follows (a joins b, b joins c, joins c):

      b     /   \    --- c 

it looks pretty straightforward, empty set when run following code, though results when restrict search joining b through c:

select a.* inner join c on c.id = a.c_id inner join b b_thru_c on b_thru_c.id = c.b_id inner join b b_from_a on b_from_a.id = a.b_id b_thru_c.field = 'myvalue' or b_from_a.field = 'myvalue'; # yields empty set  select a.* inner join c on c.id = a.c_id inner join b b_thru_c on b_thru_c.id = c.b_id b_thru_c.field = 'myvalue'; # yields results 

how this?

select a.* left outer join c on c.id = a.c_id inner join b on b.id = a.b_id or b.id = c.b_id b.field = 'myvalue';