1. An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; a memory coupled to the at least one processor; a database table residing in the memory; a query residing in the memory that accesses the database table; a query optimizer residing in the memory and executed by the at least one processor, wherein the query optimizer analyzes the query, and if no optimal index for the query exists, the query optimizer determines if a sub-optimal index exists, a sub-optimal index including at least one key referenced in the query and additionally including at least one additional key that prevents traversal of the sub-optimal index to determine the number of rows that the query will return, wherein if a sub-optimal index exists, the query optimizer uses statistical information for each additional key to bridge any gaps in the sub-optimal index when probing the sub-optimal index to optimize the query.