Dynamic SELECT TOP @var In SQL Server

How can I have a dynamic variable setting the amount of rows to return in SQL Server? Below is not valid syntax in SQL Server 2005+:

DECLARE @count int
SET @count = 20

SELECT TOP @count * FROM SomeTable

From stackoverflow eddiegroves

• SELECT TOP (@count) * FROM SomeTable
  

  This will only work with SQL 2005+

  John Sheehan : I always forget the parentheses too.
  From Brian Kim

• The syntax "select top (@var) ..." only works in SQL SERVER 2005+. For SQL 2000, you can do:

  set rowcount @top
  
  select * from sometable
  
  set rowcount 0
  

  Hope this helps

  Oisin.

  (edited to replace @@rowcount with rowcount - thanks augustlights)

  Brian Kim : I've heard that it is possible to get incorrect row number with @@RowCount if you have multi-column primary key. Is that true?

  Codewerks : This will not work, @@rowcount is a global variable, not a query option. Should be SET ROWCOUNT @top ...

  x0n : Thanks AugustLights - was pulling that from memory.
  From x0n

• In x0n's example, it should be:

  SET ROWCOUNT @top
  
  SELECT * from sometable
  
  SET ROWCOUNT 0
  

  http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms188774.aspx

  From Codewerks

• Its also possible to use dynamic SQL and execute it with the exec command:

  declare @sql  nvarchar(200), @count int
  set @count = 10
  set @sql = N'select top ' + cast(@count as nvarchar(4)) + ' * from table'
  exec (@sql)
  

  From Jan