VB Query Problem

HI, I am sure that the answer to this problem is posted somewhere. Damned if I can find it. It is a simple syntax problem. I have a VB front end and I want to query an Access database. I need the syntax for the Like operator. I need this query to fill a grid. For instance, if a person types in the first three letters of a last name, the query returns all of the close matches. Here is what I have and it doesn't give a near match:
Set Rst = db.OpenRecordset("SELECT * FROM TBMAIN WHERE PHN Like 'strsearch*'", dbOpenSnapshot, dbReadOnly)
StrSearch is a text box value. I have tried both * and %. Remember that the code is in Visual Basic, not Access. Thanks a million in advance!

The LIKE operator in MS Access is '*'.
Thus you have
SELECT *
FROM tbmain
WHERE PHN LIKE '713*'
...
This will work if the field is alphanumeric. I am not sure that MS Access allows wildcard searches on numeric fields.
...
If you are passing in a variable you will need to do this.
LIKE '" & strsearch & "*'"

Perfect.