i am trying to learn to program in Python from a book on programming that says to use Python 3 

i downloaded the Python 3.1.2 Windows x86 MSI installer for my machine aka an HP DV2500 running Win 7

it runs fine, but when i try to write the test program from my book i can't get past the if/else statement aka it gives me a syntax error when i get to the point of an if/else statement aka i program to ask the user to guess the number .. and then i try to create an if/else statement to print a you lose type statement if the input guess is not equal to the number specified by the program. for example i program the game to = 777 and print the you lose type message if the user's guess is not equal to 777, however i use the check module command from the run window in IDLE and it gave me a syntax error when i typed it the way the book said ... I've tried to figure this out myself but have had no success .. so i looked up if statements in the Python tutorials on python.org and tried that format and am still getting a syntax error