The case expressions are all legal because x is marked final, which means the expressions can be evaluated at compile time. In the first iteration of the for loop case x-2 matches, so 2 is printed. In the second iteration, x-1 is matched so 1 and 2 are printed (remember, once a match is found all remaining statements are executed until a break statement is encountered). In the third iteration, x is matched. So 0 1 and 2 are printed.