1. A method for improving response time of a query against a partitioned database table, the method comprising: (a) receiving a query directed to a database table, the database table comprising a plurality of partitions; (b) identifying a set of partitions from the plurality of partitions to access to satisfy the query; (c) defining a specified number of rows to retrieve from each partition of the set of partitions, the specified number of rows less than the total number of rows responsive to the query from the set of partitions; (d) retrieving the specified number of rows from each partition of the set of partitions to form a result set; (e) examining the result set to identify one or more response rows to provide for the query; and (f) providing the one or more response rows.