Select tbl_a.RidiculouslyComplicatedColumnName as MyData
   from MyVeryLongTableName tbl_a
   join AnotherVeryLongTableName tbl_b on tbl_b.key = tbl_a.key
where MyData = 'SearchString'

select @a = 1 where @b = 0

if @b = 0 set @a = 1

select @a = 1 where @b = 0

if @b = 0 set @a = 1

declare @d datetime
,@a int 
,@b int
,@i int

set @d = getdate()
set @i = 0
while @i < 1000000
begin 
if @b = 0 set @a = 1
set @i = @i + 1
end 

print datediff(millisecond,@d,getdate())
set @d = getdate()
set @i = 0
while @i < 1000000
begin 
select @a = 1 where @b = 0
set @i = @i + 1
end 

print datediff(millisecond,@d,getdate())

select @a = 1 where @b = 0

if @b = 0 set @a = 1

declare @d datetime
,@a int 
,@b int
,@i int

set @b = 0

set @d = getdate()
set @i = 0
while @i < 1000000
begin 
if @b = 0 set @a = 1
set @i = @i + 1
end 

print datediff(millisecond,@d,getdate())
set @d = getdate()
set @i = 0
while @i < 1000000
begin 
select @a = 1 where @b = 0
set @i = @i + 1
end 

print datediff(millisecond,@d,getdate())

set @d = getdate()
set @i = 0
while @i < 1000000
begin 
if @b = 0 select @a = 1 
set @i = @i + 1
end 

print datediff(millisecond,@d,getdate())