Taking up Laertes' for a challenge was another decision of Hamlet. He did have a plan to protect himself, but that only worked because of his strength. This is because Claudius says that Laertes must get twelve hits before Hamlet gets nine. Hamlet wins over two hits before Laertes gets any. After Hamlet's first hit, Claudius drinks to it without the poisoned union (pearl) in the cups. After he drinks, he puts it in. Following Hamlet's second hit, the Queen drinks to it, poisoned, she falls to her death. She warns Hamlet about the poisoned drink.
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