diff --git a/src/main/java/net/sf/jsqlparser/expression/ExpressionVisitor.java b/src/main/java/net/sf/jsqlparser/expression/ExpressionVisitor.java
index d07d9179a..90119d476 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/sf/jsqlparser/expression/ExpressionVisitor.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/sf/jsqlparser/expression/ExpressionVisitor.java
@@ -531,6 +531,12 @@ default void visit(UserVariable userVariable) {
         this.visit(userVariable, null);
     }
 
+    <S> T visit(UnknownVariable unknownVariable, S context);
+
+    default void visit(UnknownVariable unknownVariable) {
+        this.visit(unknownVariable, null);
+    }
+
     <S> T visit(NumericBind numericBind, S context);
 
     default void visit(NumericBind numericBind) {
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/sf/jsqlparser/expression/ExpressionVisitorAdapter.java b/src/main/java/net/sf/jsqlparser/expression/ExpressionVisitorAdapter.java
index 4727e93e8..e9d53145c 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/sf/jsqlparser/expression/ExpressionVisitorAdapter.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/sf/jsqlparser/expression/ExpressionVisitorAdapter.java
@@ -536,6 +536,11 @@ public <S> T visit(UserVariable userVariable, S context) {
         return applyExpression(userVariable, context);
     }
 
+    @Override
+    public <S> T visit(UnknownVariable unknownVariable, S context) {
+        return applyExpression(unknownVariable, context);
+    }
+
     @Override
     public <S> T visit(NumericBind numericBind, S context) {
         return applyExpression(numericBind, context);
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/sf/jsqlparser/expression/UnknownVariable.java b/src/main/java/net/sf/jsqlparser/expression/UnknownVariable.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..68e7be2f4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/java/net/sf/jsqlparser/expression/UnknownVariable.java
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+/*-
+ * #%L
+ * JSQLParser library
+ * %%
+ * Copyright (C) 2004 - 2019 JSQLParser
+ * %%
+ * Dual licensed under GNU LGPL 2.1 or Apache License 2.0.
+ * #L%
+ */
+package net.sf.jsqlparser.expression;
+
+import net.sf.jsqlparser.parser.ASTNodeAccessImpl;
+
+/**
+ * A user variable followed by the bare {@code UNKNOWN} keyword, as used in the SQL Server (T-SQL)
+ * {@code OPTIMIZE FOR (@variable_name UNKNOWN)} query hint parameter form, see
+ * <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/t-sql/queries/hints-transact-sql-query">Hints
+ * (Transact-SQL) - Query Hints</a>.
+ */
+public class UnknownVariable extends ASTNodeAccessImpl implements Expression {
+
+    private UserVariable variable;
+
+    public UnknownVariable() {
+        // empty constructor
+    }
+
+    public UnknownVariable(UserVariable variable) {
+        this.variable = variable;
+    }
+
+    public UserVariable getVariable() {
+        return variable;
+    }
+
+    public void setVariable(UserVariable variable) {
+        this.variable = variable;
+    }
+
+    public UnknownVariable withVariable(UserVariable variable) {
+        this.setVariable(variable);
+        return this;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public <T, S> T accept(ExpressionVisitor<T> expressionVisitor, S context) {
+        return expressionVisitor.visit(this, context);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public String toString() {
+        return variable.toString() + " UNKNOWN";
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/sf/jsqlparser/statement/merge/Merge.java b/src/main/java/net/sf/jsqlparser/statement/merge/Merge.java
index 7a3baf7a4..7e372be5d 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/sf/jsqlparser/statement/merge/Merge.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/sf/jsqlparser/statement/merge/Merge.java
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 import net.sf.jsqlparser.statement.Statement;
 import net.sf.jsqlparser.statement.StatementVisitor;
 import net.sf.jsqlparser.statement.select.FromItem;
+import net.sf.jsqlparser.statement.select.OptionClause;
 import net.sf.jsqlparser.statement.select.ParenthesedSelect;
 import net.sf.jsqlparser.statement.select.WithItem;
 
@@ -41,6 +42,7 @@ public class Merge implements Statement {
     private List<MergeOperation> operations;
 
     private OutputClause outputClause;
+    private OptionClause option;
 
     private void deriveOperationsFromStandardClauses() {
         List<MergeOperation> operations = new ArrayList<>();
@@ -214,6 +216,19 @@ public Merge setOutputClause(OutputClause outputClause) {
         return this;
     }
 
+    public OptionClause getOption() {
+        return option;
+    }
+
+    public Merge setOption(OptionClause option) {
+        this.option = option;
+        return this;
+    }
+
+    public Merge withOption(OptionClause option) {
+        return setOption(option);
+    }
+
     @Override
     @SuppressWarnings({"PMD.CyclomaticComplexity", "PMD.NPathComplexity"})
     public String toString() {
@@ -248,6 +263,10 @@ public String toString() {
             b.append(outputClause);
         }
 
+        if (option != null) {
+            b.append(option);
+        }
+
         return b.toString();
     }
 
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/sf/jsqlparser/util/TablesNamesFinder.java b/src/main/java/net/sf/jsqlparser/util/TablesNamesFinder.java
index 3e15be9a7..642a28047 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/sf/jsqlparser/util/TablesNamesFinder.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/sf/jsqlparser/util/TablesNamesFinder.java
@@ -1137,6 +1137,12 @@ public <S> Void visit(UserVariable userVariable, S context) {
         return null;
     }
 
+    @Override
+    public <S> Void visit(UnknownVariable unknownVariable, S context) {
+
+        return null;
+    }
+
     @Override
     public <S> Void visit(NumericBind numericBind, S context) {
 
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/sf/jsqlparser/util/deparser/ExpressionDeParser.java b/src/main/java/net/sf/jsqlparser/util/deparser/ExpressionDeParser.java
index 2767f5e23..d650f938f 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/sf/jsqlparser/util/deparser/ExpressionDeParser.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/sf/jsqlparser/util/deparser/ExpressionDeParser.java
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@
 import net.sf.jsqlparser.expression.TimezoneExpression;
 import net.sf.jsqlparser.expression.TranscodingFunction;
 import net.sf.jsqlparser.expression.TrimFunction;
+import net.sf.jsqlparser.expression.UnknownVariable;
 import net.sf.jsqlparser.expression.UserVariable;
 import net.sf.jsqlparser.expression.VariableAssignment;
 import net.sf.jsqlparser.expression.WhenClause;
@@ -1417,6 +1418,12 @@ public <S> StringBuilder visit(UserVariable var, S context) {
         return builder;
     }
 
+    @Override
+    public <S> StringBuilder visit(UnknownVariable var, S context) {
+        builder.append(var.toString());
+        return builder;
+    }
+
     @Override
     public <S> StringBuilder visit(NumericBind bind, S context) {
         builder.append(bind.toString());
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/sf/jsqlparser/util/deparser/MergeDeParser.java b/src/main/java/net/sf/jsqlparser/util/deparser/MergeDeParser.java
index 003527770..580bcac61 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/sf/jsqlparser/util/deparser/MergeDeParser.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/sf/jsqlparser/util/deparser/MergeDeParser.java
@@ -63,6 +63,10 @@ public void deParse(Merge merge) {
         if (merge.getOutputClause() != null) {
             merge.getOutputClause().appendTo(builder);
         }
+
+        if (merge.getOption() != null) {
+            builder.append(merge.getOption());
+        }
     }
 
     @Override
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/sf/jsqlparser/util/deparser/ValuesStatementDeParser.java b/src/main/java/net/sf/jsqlparser/util/deparser/ValuesStatementDeParser.java
index eb39481d0..1942793f7 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/sf/jsqlparser/util/deparser/ValuesStatementDeParser.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/sf/jsqlparser/util/deparser/ValuesStatementDeParser.java
@@ -26,6 +26,9 @@ public ValuesStatementDeParser(ExpressionVisitor<StringBuilder> expressionVisito
     public void deParse(Values values) {
         builder.append("VALUES ");
         values.getExpressions().accept(expressionVisitor, null);
+        if (values.getOption() != null) {
+            builder.append(values.getOption());
+        }
         if (values.getAlias() != null) {
             builder.append(" ").append(values.getAlias());
         }
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/sf/jsqlparser/util/validation/validator/ExpressionValidator.java b/src/main/java/net/sf/jsqlparser/util/validation/validator/ExpressionValidator.java
index 128fc7d92..d1ed53f81 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/sf/jsqlparser/util/validation/validator/ExpressionValidator.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/sf/jsqlparser/util/validation/validator/ExpressionValidator.java
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@
 import net.sf.jsqlparser.expression.TimezoneExpression;
 import net.sf.jsqlparser.expression.TranscodingFunction;
 import net.sf.jsqlparser.expression.TrimFunction;
+import net.sf.jsqlparser.expression.UnknownVariable;
 import net.sf.jsqlparser.expression.UserVariable;
 import net.sf.jsqlparser.expression.VariableAssignment;
 import net.sf.jsqlparser.expression.WhenClause;
@@ -819,6 +820,12 @@ public <S> Void visit(UserVariable var, S context) {
         return null;
     }
 
+    @Override
+    public <S> Void visit(UnknownVariable var, S context) {
+        // nothing to validate
+        return null;
+    }
+
     @Override
     public <S> Void visit(NumericBind bind, S context) {
         // nothing to validate
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/sf/jsqlparser/util/validation/validator/MergeValidator.java b/src/main/java/net/sf/jsqlparser/util/validation/validator/MergeValidator.java
index e82ebc91d..79d84c6c6 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/sf/jsqlparser/util/validation/validator/MergeValidator.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/sf/jsqlparser/util/validation/validator/MergeValidator.java
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 
 import net.sf.jsqlparser.parser.feature.Feature;
 import net.sf.jsqlparser.statement.merge.*;
+import net.sf.jsqlparser.statement.select.OptionHint;
 import net.sf.jsqlparser.statement.update.UpdateSet;
 import net.sf.jsqlparser.util.validation.ValidationCapability;
 
@@ -31,6 +32,14 @@ public void validate(Merge merge) {
             merge.getOperations().forEach(operation -> operation.accept(this, null));
         }
         validateOptionalFromItems(merge.getFromItem());
+        if (merge.getOption() != null) {
+            for (OptionHint optionHint : merge.getOption().getOptionHints()) {
+                validateOptionalExpression(optionHint.getValue());
+                if (optionHint.getParameters() != null) {
+                    optionHint.getParameters().forEach(this::validateOptionalExpression);
+                }
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     @Override
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/sf/jsqlparser/util/validation/validator/ValuesStatementValidator.java b/src/main/java/net/sf/jsqlparser/util/validation/validator/ValuesStatementValidator.java
index 79643c889..0d8087918 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/sf/jsqlparser/util/validation/validator/ValuesStatementValidator.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/sf/jsqlparser/util/validation/validator/ValuesStatementValidator.java
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 package net.sf.jsqlparser.util.validation.validator;
 
 import net.sf.jsqlparser.parser.feature.Feature;
+import net.sf.jsqlparser.statement.select.OptionHint;
 import net.sf.jsqlparser.statement.select.Values;
 
 /**
@@ -21,5 +22,13 @@ public class ValuesStatementValidator extends AbstractValidator<Values> {
     public void validate(Values values) {
         validateFeature(Feature.values);
         validateOptionalExpression(values.getExpressions());
+        if (values.getOption() != null) {
+            for (OptionHint optionHint : values.getOption().getOptionHints()) {
+                validateOptionalExpression(optionHint.getValue());
+                if (optionHint.getParameters() != null) {
+                    optionHint.getParameters().forEach(this::validateOptionalExpression);
+                }
+            }
+        }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/main/jjtree/net/sf/jsqlparser/parser/JSqlParserCC.jjt b/src/main/jjtree/net/sf/jsqlparser/parser/JSqlParserCC.jjt
index da45e5887..1eada8cf8 100644
--- a/src/main/jjtree/net/sf/jsqlparser/parser/JSqlParserCC.jjt
+++ b/src/main/jjtree/net/sf/jsqlparser/parser/JSqlParserCC.jjt
@@ -4388,6 +4388,7 @@ Statement Merge( List<WithItem<?>> with ) : {
     Expression condition;
     List<MergeOperation> operations;
     OutputClause outputClause;
+    OptionClause optionClause = null;
 }
 {
     <K_MERGE> { merge.setOracleHint(getOracleHint()); } <K_INTO> table=TableWithAlias() { merge.setTable(table); }
@@ -4398,6 +4399,8 @@ Statement Merge( List<WithItem<?>> with ) : {
 
     [ outputClause = OutputClause() { merge.setOutputClause(outputClause); } ]
 
+    [ LOOKAHEAD(2) optionClause = OptionClause() { merge.setOption(optionClause); } ]
+
     { return merge.withWithItemsList(with); }
 }
 
@@ -6952,6 +6955,23 @@ InterpolateElement InterpolateElement():
     { return interpolateElement; }
 }
 
+Expression OptionHintParameter():
+{
+    UserVariable userVariable = null;
+    Expression parameter = null;
+}
+{
+    (
+        LOOKAHEAD({ getToken(1).kind == S_AT_IDENTIFIER && getToken(2).kind == K_UNKNOWN })
+        userVariable = UserVariable() <K_UNKNOWN>
+        {
+            return new UnknownVariable(userVariable);
+        }
+        |
+        parameter = Expression() { return parameter; }
+    )
+}
+
 OptionClause OptionClause():
 {
     OptionClause optionClause = new OptionClause();
@@ -6977,8 +6997,8 @@ OptionHint OptionHint():
         (
             LOOKAHEAD("=") "=" value = Expression() { optionHint.setValue(value); optionHint.setUseEquals(true); }
             |
-            LOOKAHEAD("(") "(" parameter = Expression() { optionHint.addParameter(parameter); }
-            ( "," parameter = Expression() { optionHint.addParameter(parameter); } )*
+            LOOKAHEAD("(") "(" parameter = OptionHintParameter() { optionHint.addParameter(parameter); }
+            ( "," parameter = OptionHintParameter() { optionHint.addParameter(parameter); } )*
             ")"
             |
             LOOKAHEAD({ isOptionHintValueAhead() }) value = Expression() { optionHint.setValue(value); }
diff --git a/src/test/java/net/sf/jsqlparser/statement/select/OptionClauseTest.java b/src/test/java/net/sf/jsqlparser/statement/select/OptionClauseTest.java
index bfeba4be2..da7bdd863 100644
--- a/src/test/java/net/sf/jsqlparser/statement/select/OptionClauseTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/net/sf/jsqlparser/statement/select/OptionClauseTest.java
@@ -12,8 +12,11 @@
 import static net.sf.jsqlparser.test.TestUtils.assertSqlCanBeParsedAndDeparsed;
 
 import net.sf.jsqlparser.JSQLParserException;
+import net.sf.jsqlparser.expression.UnknownVariable;
 import net.sf.jsqlparser.parser.CCJSqlParserUtil;
 import net.sf.jsqlparser.statement.Statement;
+import net.sf.jsqlparser.statement.insert.Insert;
+import net.sf.jsqlparser.statement.merge.Merge;
 import org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions;
 import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
 
@@ -147,6 +150,55 @@ public void testOptionInUpdateAndDelete() throws JSQLParserException {
         Assertions.assertNotNull(((net.sf.jsqlparser.statement.update.Update) update).getOption());
     }
 
+    @Test
+    public void testOptionOptimizeForUnknownParameter() throws JSQLParserException {
+        String sql = "SELECT * FROM t WHERE c = @p OPTION (OPTIMIZE FOR (@p UNKNOWN))";
+        PlainSelect plainSelect =
+                (PlainSelect) assertSqlCanBeParsedAndDeparsed(sql, true);
+        OptionHint optimizeFor = plainSelect.getOption().getOptionHints().get(0);
+        Assertions.assertEquals(1, optimizeFor.getParameters().size());
+        Assertions.assertTrue(optimizeFor.getParameters().get(0) instanceof UnknownVariable);
+        Assertions.assertEquals("@p UNKNOWN", optimizeFor.getParameters().get(0).toString());
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void testOptionOptimizeForMixedParameters() throws JSQLParserException {
+        String sql = "SELECT * FROM t WHERE c = @p OPTION (OPTIMIZE FOR (@p = 1, @q UNKNOWN))";
+        PlainSelect plainSelect =
+                (PlainSelect) assertSqlCanBeParsedAndDeparsed(sql, true);
+        OptionHint optimizeFor = plainSelect.getOption().getOptionHints().get(0);
+        Assertions.assertEquals(2, optimizeFor.getParameters().size());
+        Assertions.assertEquals("@p = 1", optimizeFor.getParameters().get(0).toString());
+        Assertions.assertTrue(optimizeFor.getParameters().get(1) instanceof UnknownVariable);
+        Assertions.assertEquals("@q UNKNOWN", optimizeFor.getParameters().get(1).toString());
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void testOptionAfterInsertValues() throws JSQLParserException {
+        String sql = "INSERT INTO t (a) VALUES (1) OPTION (RECOMPILE)";
+        Statement statement = assertSqlCanBeParsedAndDeparsed(sql, true);
+        Insert insert = (Insert) statement;
+        Assertions.assertNotNull(insert.getSelect().getOption());
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void testOptionAfterMergeStatement() throws JSQLParserException {
+        String sql =
+                "MERGE INTO t USING s ON t.id = s.id WHEN MATCHED THEN UPDATE SET a = s.a OPTION (HASH JOIN)";
+        Statement statement = assertSqlCanBeParsedAndDeparsed(sql, true);
+        Merge merge = (Merge) statement;
+        Assertions.assertNotNull(merge.getOption());
+        Assertions.assertEquals("HASH JOIN", merge.getOption().getOptionHints().get(0).getName());
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void testOptionAfterMergeOutputClause() throws JSQLParserException {
+        assertSqlCanBeParsedAndDeparsed(
+                "MERGE INTO t USING s ON t.id = s.id WHEN MATCHED THEN UPDATE SET a = s.a "
+                        + "OUTPUT deleted.a OPTION (HASH JOIN)",
+                true);
+    }
+
     @Test
     public void testOptionAsIdentifierStillWorks() throws JSQLParserException {
         // OPTION stays a non-reserved keyword usable as column and table name