title: How to fine-tune a following SQL query?
body: <p>I am trying to replace a nested loop to merge join without force option , I've given table data and query's below thanks.</p>
  
  <h1>Table 1:</h1>
  
  <pre><code>   N_ID S_NAME  DEPT
      1   NAME1   DEPT1
      2   NAME2   DEPT2
      3   NAME3   DEPT3
  </code></pre>
  
  <h1>Table 2:</h1>
  
  <pre><code>  N_ID  S_CITY  PHONE
      1   CITY1   PHONE1
      2   CITY2   PHONE2
      3   CITY3   PHONE3
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I've created index like below :</p>
  
  <pre><code>CREATE NONCLUSTERED INDEX IX_NC ON TBL1(N_ID)
  INCLUDE (S_NAME)
  
  CREATE NONCLUSTERED INDEX IX_NC ON TBL2(N_ID)
  </code></pre>
  
  <h1>Query:</h1>
  
  <pre><code>SELECT A.N_ID,S_NAME FROM TBL1 A
  INNER JOIN TBL2 B ON A.N_ID=B.N_ID;
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Here's my Execution plan:</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/ybyH1.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/ybyH1.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>