A method and apparatus for improving search performance in databases organized in B Tree or B+ Tree format has an automatic determination and switching between two methods. It also searches to the end of a current leaf page even if a current value for all key parameters has been fulfilled in the search prior to reaching the end of the current leaf page. Swinging across and thus skipping leaf pages to fetch a next leaf page (trapeze fetching or swinging) is activated only either initially or where a B Tree search has resulted in a skipping of leaf pages previously in a search. User interference with the automatic selection of search type between next sequential leaf or trapeze type is not provided for and not allowed.