need help

Hi, guys:

I am a totally newbie in php.
There is my question:
I am trying to login in a front page and test the username and password in a
php file. Then redirect to a webpage in a protected folder. The password and
username of the protect folder should match the login's. My php file like
this:
<?php

if ($_POST['name'] =="username" && $_POST['psword'=="passowrd")
 {
    //open the index page in folder 'username'
}
else
  {
//error message
}
Thanks

Bernie