Implicit transactions make SQL Server open a transaction on the first data statement and keep it open until a COMMIT or ROLLBACK. This post shows what starts one, how @@TRANCOUNT counts it, why a second session waits, and how to find and clear the sessions that left work open.
SQL Server emergency? Email pinal@sqlauthority.com with URGENT in the subject line.
How to Choose the Right Database Monitoring Tool
Choose the right database monitoring tool by comparing alerts, workload context, overhead, pricing and support using a practical checklist.
Adapting to the Evolving Role of the DBA with SQL DM
The evolving role of the DBA includes proactive monitoring. See how SQL DM can highlight risk, help prioritize issues and support the team.
Parameter Sensitive Plan optimization in SQL Server 2022 – SQL in Sixty Seconds #200
SQL Server 2022 introduces Parameter Sensitive Plan Optimization (PSPO), a feature that revolutionizes the performance of parameterized queries.
PSPO Plan Variants: One Query, Several Plans in SQL Server
PSPO plan variants let SQL Server cache up to three plans for one parameterized query when the data is very skewed. This post builds a skewed table, shows two variants with different reads for three calls, compares the same calls with the feature off, and explains when PSPO does not apply.
Data Quality Asserts in T-SQL: Failing a Load When Rules Break
Write data quality asserts in T-SQL to reject invalid staging rows, preserve check results, and record each load attempt.
Chatty Applications: Finding Many Tiny Queries per Second
Diagnose chatty applications with batch rates, cached executions, bounded session event counts, and measured round trips per user action.
SQL Server slow? Let's fix it together in about four hours.
In my Comprehensive Database Performance Health Check, you share your screen, I guide you, and we fix your biggest performance troublemakers. No passwords. No remote access.
You keep every script, and the know-how to fix it yourself next time.
Want your whole team to learn it?
My Practical Workshop has no PowerPoint, just live demos. My AI Enablement Workshop shows your team where AI saves hours, and where it quietly costs them.
Over 400 customers have worked with me this way, and not one shared a password. See all consulting options.
Who We Are
Pinal Dave is an SQL Server Performance Tuning Expert and independent consultant with over 24 years of hands-on experience. He holds a Masters of Science degree and numerous database certifications.
Pinal has authored 19 books and 125 Pluralsight courses. To freely share his knowledge and help others build their expertise, Pinal has also written more than 5,800 database tech articles on his blog at https://blog.sqlauthority.com.
Pinal is also a CrossFit Level 1 Trainer (CF-L1) and CrossFit Level 2 Trainer (CF-L2).
Nupur Dave is a social media enthusiast and an independent consultant. She primarily focuses on the database domain, helping clients build short and long-term multi-channel campaigns to drive leads for their sales pipeline.
Shaivi Pinalkumar Dave is a book author and a women’s artistic gymnast.

