Back to desktop button??

Is there a button/series of buttons on the keyboard that will minimize the program/game I am in and take me to the desktop?

In a fullscreen game... not usually. You can try command-M (that works in StarCraft at least), maybe command-H, but check the instructions for the given game.

For anything that runs in a window, if you're on panther, hit either F10 or F11. (I think it's F11, but I changed the buttons on mine long ago.) The windows will be swept off to the side so you can access your desktop.

command M works for most blizzard games..
command- tab
escape may work
or thers always classic

command q
and
command option esc

Command q & command+ option + esc will quit the program/game I am in?

Command Q is the standard shortcut for quit. Same as Alt-F4 on Windows if you're used to that.

Command - Option - Esc is force quit, or Ctrl-Alt-Del on windows. Use that if your program freezes. You can also go to the apple menu and select force quit, or control-click on the program's icon in the dock.

With Expose in Panther you can assign a hot corner or function key to show the desktop.