if statement with character keyboard input [duplicate]

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• How do I compare strings in Java? 23 answers

I have the following code and it all executes correctly [commented out first if-statement and ran remaining code] except the if statement about "Are you ready for a quiz? (Y/N) ". The default response is always given of "Please enter a valid response." I have tried Y and N as options with the same result. When I do a println the ready variable is taking the right input - its just not interpreting the input for the desired output.

Here is my code:

import java.util.Scanner;

public class LittleQuiz {

    public static void main( String[] args ) {

        Scanner keyboard = new Scanner( System.in );

        String ready;
        int answer_q1, answer_q2, answer_q3, total_right;

        total_right = 0;

        System.out.print( "Are you ready for a quiz? (Y/N) " );
        ready = keyboard.nextLine();

            if ( ready == "Y" ) {
            System.out.println( "Okay, here it comes!\n" );

                System.out.println( "Q1) What is the capital of Alaska?" );
                System.out.println( "    1. Melbourne" );
                System.out.println( "    2. Anchorage" );
                System.out.println( "    3. Juneau\n" );

                System.out.print( "Type Answer Choice >  " );
                answer_q1 = keyboard.nextInt();

                    if ( answer_q1 == 3) {
                        System.out.println( "\nThat's right.\n" );
                        total_right++;
                    }
                    else {
                        System.out.println( "\nThat's wrong, the correct answer is JUNEAU.\n" );
                    }

                System.out.println( "Q2) Can you store the value \"cat\" in a variable of type int?" );
                System.out.println( "    1. Yes" );
                System.out.println( "    2. No\n" );

                System.out.print( "Type Answer Choice >  " );
                answer_q2 = keyboard.nextInt();

                    if ( answer_q2 == 2) {
                        System.out.println( "\nThat's right.\n" );
                        total_right++;
                    }
                    else if ( answer_q2 == 1 ){
                        System.out.println( "\nSorry, \"cat\" is a string. int variables can only store numbers.\n" );
                    }

                System.out.println( "Q3) What is the result of 9 + 6 / 3?" );
                System.out.println( "    1. 5" );
                System.out.println( "    2. 11" );
                System.out.println( "    3. 15/3\n" );

                System.out.print( "Type Answer Choice >  " );
                answer_q3 = keyboard.nextInt();

                    if ( answer_q3 == 2) {
                        System.out.println( "\nThat's correct.\n" );
                        total_right++;
                    }
                    else {
                        System.out.println( "\nThat's wrong, the correct answer is " + (9+6/3) + ".\n" );
                    }

                System.out.println( "\nOverall, you got " + total_right + " out of 3 correct." );
                System.out.println( "Thanks for playing!" );
            } 
            else if ( ready == "N" ) {
                System.out.print( "Bummer, come back when you are ready." );
            }
            else {
                System.out.println( "Please enter a valid response." );
            }
    } 
}