set hive.enforce.bucketing = true; set hive.exec.reducers.max = 1; set hive.merge.mapredfiles=true; drop table bucket2_1; CREATE TABLE bucket2_1(key int, value string) CLUSTERED BY (key) INTO 2 BUCKETS; explain extended insert overwrite table bucket2_1 select * from src; insert overwrite table bucket2_1 select * from src; explain select * from bucket2_1 tablesample (bucket 1 out of 2) s order by key; select * from bucket2_1 tablesample (bucket 1 out of 2) s order by key; drop table bucket2_1;