1. An information retrieval system for processing a query having an associated plan, the associated plan comprises applying predicates, comprising local predicates and a join predicate, to at least two tables, a method of applying the predicates, the method comprising: using index ANDing to construct a filter for filtering a first of the tables in accordance with the local predicates; applying the join predicate to the tables for determining row identifiers of rows satisfying the join predicate; using the row identifiers to probe the filter for determining whether the rows satisfying the join predicate also satisfy the local predicates; fetching the rows that satisfy both the join and local predicates; completing the join predicate; and returning results of the join predicate.