sql - MySQL INSERT INTO syntax

I have the following structure

user_id int(11)
right   int(11)
group_id int(11)

value   tinyint(1)

And 3 queries

INSERT INTO  user_rights (`user_id`,`right`,`group_id`,`value`)
VALUES ( '42',  '160',  '1',  '1' );

INSERT INTO  user_rights ('user_id','right','group_id','value')
VALUES ( '42',  '160',  '1',  '1' );


INSERT INTO  user_rights (user_id,right,group_id,value)
VALUES ( '42',  '160',  '1',  '1' );

Explain me WHYYYY only the first works????

I have all my life used the third one!

Answer

RIGHT is a mySQL reserved word. It will work only when wrapped in backticks.

When you're not using reserved words, it will work without the backticks, as well.

The second way will never work because quotes are used to quote strings, but never database, table or column identifiers.