Another one to try

WITH Numbers(N) AS (

SELECT N

FROM ( VALUES(1),(2),(3),(4) ) Numbers(N)),

Recur(N,Combination) AS (

SELECT N, CAST(N AS VARCHAR(1000))

FROM Numbers

UNION ALL

SELECT n.N,CAST(r.Combination + ',' + CAST(n.N AS VARCHAR(10)) AS VARCHAR(1000))

FROM Recur r

INNER JOIN Numbers n ON n.N > r.N)

SELECT Combination

FROM Recur

ORDER BY LEN(Combination),Combination;

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Deja View - The strange feeling that somewhere, sometime you've optimised this query before

How to get the best help on a forum

http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/Best+Practices/61537