[CrazeD]

<?php

$mysql = mysql_connect ('localhost','userid','pw','database');
if (!$mysql) {
	die ('Could not connect: '.mysql_error().'');
} else {
	
	$display_block = 'Name to find is '.$_POST['name'].'<br />';
	$namesearch_sql = 'SELECT * FROM tbl_guests WHERE guest_name LIKE '{$_POST['name']}'';
		if ($namesearch_res = mysql_query ($namesearch_sql)) { // Run the query
			if (mysql_num_rows ($namesearch_res) < 1) {
				$display_block .= "no name";
			} else {
				$display_block = "name found.";
			}
			
		} else { // Query didn't run
			die ('<p>Error: '.mysql_error().'</p>');
		}

mysql_close();

?>

I re-wrote it for you, a little neater. See if it works.