When z == 0 , case x-2 is matched. When z == 1, case x-1 is matched and then the break occurs. When z == 2, case x, then default, then x-1 are all matched. When z == 3, default, then x-1 are matched. The rules for default are that it will fall through from above like any other case (for instance when z == 2), and that it will match when no other cases match (for instance when z==3).