$firstfewletters = param("SEARCH");  #a text box elsewhere
if ($firstfewletters) { #checks that $firstfewletters has value
  ***start table here***
  foreach $card (@stock) {  #for every card in stock...
    if ($card =~ m/^$firstfewletters/) {
#  ...if that card's first few letters match
# $firstfewletters
    ***printing each table element here***
    }
  }
  ***end table here***
} else {
  print "Please enter the first few letters of the card's name, or enter a single letter
 to view just the cards beginning with that letter in our singles collection.";
}