UPDATE dbo.TestStudents
SET LASTNAME =
( CASE
WHEN (LASTNAME = 'AAA') THEN 'BBB'
WHEN (LASTNAME = 'CCC') THEN 'DDD'
WHEN (LASTNAME = 'EEE') THEN 'FFF'
ELSE (LASTNAME)
END )
The statement serves its function, but the else condition scans every table row. Can I leave the unaffected rows alone in any way?