diff --git a/rslib/src/storage/card/mod.rs b/rslib/src/storage/card/mod.rs
index 3a5066ff4..e213a0ecb 100644
--- a/rslib/src/storage/card/mod.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/storage/card/mod.rs
@@ -836,9 +836,17 @@ impl fmt::Display for ReviewOrderSubclause {
                 let today = timing.days_elapsed;
                 let next_day_at = timing.next_day_at.0;
                 let now = timing.now.0;
-                temp_string =
-                    format!("extract_fsrs_relative_retrievability(data, case when odue !=0 then odue else due end, {today}, ivl, {next_day_at}, {now}) {order}");
-                &temp_string
+                if *order == SqlSortOrder::Ascending {
+                    // Use relative retrievability to give higher priority to high DR cards,
+                    // while selecting the most overdue ones first
+                    temp_string =
+                        format!("extract_fsrs_relative_retrievability(data, case when odue !=0 then odue else due end, {today}, ivl, {next_day_at}, {now}) asc");
+                    &temp_string
+                } else {
+                    temp_string =
+                        format!("extract_fsrs_retrievability(data, case when odue !=0 then odue else due end, ivl, {today}, {next_day_at}, {now}) desc");
+                    &temp_string
+                }
             }
             ReviewOrderSubclause::Added => "nid asc, ord asc",
             ReviewOrderSubclause::ReverseAdded => "nid desc, ord asc",
diff --git a/rslib/src/storage/sqlite.rs b/rslib/src/storage/sqlite.rs
index 3ce1baff0..10c468af2 100644
--- a/rslib/src/storage/sqlite.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/storage/sqlite.rs
@@ -651,7 +651,7 @@ impl SqliteStorage {
     }
 }
 
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq)]
 pub enum SqlSortOrder {
     Ascending,
     Descending,
@@ -677,7 +677,10 @@ mod test {
     use crate::storage::card::ReviewOrderSubclause;
 
     #[test]
-    fn missing_memory_state_falls_back_to_sm2() -> Result<()> {
+    // Ascending R uses relative R, which can be approximated using ivl
+    // and elapsed days.
+    // Descending R uses pure R, which can't be approximated.
+    fn missing_memory_state_falls_back_to_sm2_for_asc_r() -> Result<()> {
         let (mut col, _cids) = v3_test_collection(1)?;
         col.set_config_bool(BoolKey::Fsrs, true, true)?;
         col.answer_easy();