FULL PRODUCT VERSION : java version " 1.7.0_11 " Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.7.0_11-b21) Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 23.6-b04, mixed mode) ADDITIONAL OS VERSION INFORMATION : Microsoft Windows [Ver 6.1.7601] A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM : System.out.println( " abc1c " .matches( " (\\w)+1\\1 " )); // prints false But System.out.println( " abc11 " .matches( " (\\w)+1\\1 " )); // prints true REGRESSION. Last worked in version 7 REPRODUCIBILITY : This bug can be reproduced always.