No. 1  Privman-Muhammad (Atlantic Open - USA), 2002)
In this classic King's Indian, white played sluggishly in the opening and allowed Black to conjure up a rapid kingside initiative. White's position came under serious pressure as black tripled on the g-file. This motif came into full force in the diagrammed position when Muhammad launched the thunderbolt, 28…Rg2+! White resigned after 29.Kh1 Ng3+! in lieu of  30.Kxg2 Nxe2+ winning a piece. (See game)

No. 2  Ashley-Christiansen (Foxwoods, 2002)
This game clinched a berth in the 2003 U.S. Championship for GM Maurice Ashley as he toppled the reigning champion with an endgame finesse.  Ashley maintained a slight edge against Christiansen's Modern Defense and deftly created advanced passed pawns on opposite wings. In the position above, Ashley could try to run the h-pawn into the end zone for a queen with 45.h5??, but this plan fails to 45…Nd6+ and 46…Nf7. So, the Brooklyn GM played the direct 45.Nf5! Preventing the Nd6+ plan and also attacking the dangerous h-pawn. Black  must stop the h-pawn with 45…Ng5, but after 46.Nxh4 Nh7 (46...Kb7 47.Kb5 e4 48.a6+ Ka7 49.Nf5 transposes) 47.Nf5 Ng5 48.Ne7+! Black's cannot hold both passed pawns, nor does he have time to push his own, so after 48…Kb7 49.Kb5 e4 50.a6+ black resigned. (See game)

No. 3  Muhammad-B. Smith (St. John's Invitational, 2001)
In this game, Muhammad gave a textbook example of how to play against hanging pawns. His opponent never could mobilize his pieces to give  a pending pawn thrust enough force. After a series of exchanges, white gained a couple of  tempi and played the innocent-looking 29.Rac1! After examining this move a bit deeper, it is clear that black's a7 pawn is in trouble. Instead of giving a fight with 29…Bf6!, black's position went up in flames after 29…Bd4?? 30.Nxf5 gxf5 31.Rfd1! Black played on with 31…Rb4 (31…Bf6 32.Be3!; 31… Nc5 32.Rxd4 Nb3 33.Rdd1 +-), but was hit with the zinger… 32.Be7! skewering both rooks. (See game)

No. 4 Ashley-Shabalov (New York Enhance, 1993)
This classic battle was an important win for Maurice Ashley in clinching his IM title scoring a scintillating 7½-1½. He became the first Black player in the U.S. to earn the IM title and five years later, the Jamaican-born player would win the GM title. This was an impressive game against yet another attacking magician from Latvia, GM Alexander Shabalov. Surprisingly the game only lasted 25 moves. In the famed position, white's bishops are terrorizing the board and black's naked king has been completely denied of any safe haven. Being a very capable attacker himself, Ashley  played 18.Re4!! and on 18…Nd4 (18…Qxc5 19.Bf4+! or 18…Qxe4 19.Bxe4 Bxe4 20.Qf4+) 19.Qf4+ Kc6 20. Bxd4  Rd5 21.Bxg7 and black finally resigned after 21…Qxc5 22.Rc1. Fine performance! (See game)