SELECT questions.id as id, question, answer, correct, SUBSTRING(question,1,4) as first4
FROM questions
LEFT JOIN answers ON answers.correct_answer = questions.correct
WHERE player_name = 'Alpha Squad'
ORDER BY id ASC
или этот следующий присоединяется специально к тем, у которых совпадают первые 4
SELECT questions.id as id, question, answer, correct, SUBSTRING(question,1,4) as first4
FROM questions
LEFT JOIN answers ON SUBSTRING(answers.correct_answer,1,4) = SUBSTRING(question,1,4)
ORDER BY id ASC