In this performance tuning deep dive, Erik Darling exposes the strange and often overlooked impact of row goals on SQL Server execution plans.

Through practical demonstrations, you'll see how these optimizer shortcuts, designed to retrieve just enough rows to satisfy a query, can silently steer execution plans in ways that drastically affect performance —sometimes for better, sometimes for worse.

You'll walk away with immediately applicable techniques for recognizing, troubleshooting, and strategically implementing row goals in your environment. Learn how to finesse these mechanisms to your advantage, using them deliberately to push SQL Server toward faster, more efficient plans.

If you want to understand why SQL Server sometimes makes bewildering decisions, and how to take back control of your queries, saddle up — it's time to go looking for a few rows more. These essential techniques are vital for anyone serious about advanced SQL Server performance optimization.