htaccess Elite

Hey, my first post here so... here it goes

On my machine i installed Zend Community Server... with apache 2.2.x
My previous knowledge of .htaccess is ... very scarce
Server is Win2008

Problem that i keep getting hit with (after 6 days of browsing forums and examples and snipets etc...) is the following - pass string to a php variable if there is no php webpage specified:

When visitor enters this for ex into the browser adress bar:
http://www.mysite.info/some_random_phrase_with_no_blanks - basicaly represented with (.*) in htaccess regex pattern
i need apache to convert it to this
http://www.mysite.info/solution.php?var1=some_random_phrase_with_no_blanks
so my php/mysql can continue the job.

but important note - main condition is:
if the "word" solution.php is NOT found - DO rewrite/redirect as mentioned above
if the "word" solution.php is found in the haystack - DONT redirect or rewrite just leave it as it is

99% of time while experimenting i am getting 404 when i input random stuff after my website url (or localhost as i test it there), 1% i get Forbidden - as i have prevented directory listings

Dunno if it makes any big difference that my webserver with Zend (legacy) atm ignores any .htaccess files in directories and only editing i can do by putting the usual:
RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
RewriteRule ........
inside httpd.conf.
It works but i am simply out of ideas on how construct the pattern that matches properly - which i think is atm the only reason it doesnt work



I do realise that this may seem like very easy for someone with enuf expirience in htaccessing but i would rly appreciate worrking regex line to copy/paste.

Thanks in advance.