Becareful here. SQL Server will not be able to optimize this query with an index and will resort to a table scan. In general, SQL Server can only optimize those clauses that are in the form

column = literal

LIKE is another one that can bite you. SQL Server can optimize this:

column LIKE 'b%'

because it will convert it to

column >= 'b' AND column < 'c'

but it can't optimize

column LIKE '%b'

Now, sometimes you have no choice. If it the only way to get the job done, then you do it that way.

-Mike