Hi Jim, The feature is called comparison chaining and is equivalent to if board[row[0]] == board[row[1]] and board[row[1]] == board[row[2]] and board[row[2]] != EMPTY: except that the operands are only evaluated once. It's covered in chapter 5 Expressions, of the Python reference. --Jim ----- Original Message ----- From: Homme, James To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Tuesday, November 02, 2010 2:42 PM Subject: Python: What Happens When This If Executes? Hi, I understand that this statement compares three values to see if they are the same, and that they are not the value called Empty, which is a global variable filled with a space, but how does it do this? if board[row[0]] == board[row[1]] == board[row[2]] != EMPTY: Thanks. Jim Jim Homme, Usability Services, Phone: 412-544-1810. Skype: jim.homme Internal recipients, Read my accessibility blog. Discuss accessibility here. Accessibility Wiki: Breaking news and accessibility advice -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This e-mail and any attachments to it are confidential and are intended solely for use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender immediately and then delete it. If you are not the intended recipient, you must not keep, use, disclose, copy or distribute this e-mail without the author's prior permission. The views expressed in this e-mail message do not necessarily represent the views of Highmark Inc., its subsidiaries, or affiliates. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Ta an fhaisneis sa riomhphost seo (ceangaltain san aireamh) faoi run. Baineann se leis an te ar seoladh chuige amhain agus ta se ar intinn go bhfaighfidh siadsan amhain e agus gurb iadsan amhain a dheanfaidh breithniu air. Mas rud e nach tusa an duine ar leis e, ta cosc iomlan ar aon fhaisneis ata ann, a usaid, a chraobhscaoileadh, a scaipeadh, a nochtadh, a fhoilsiu, na a choipeail . Seains gurb iad tuairimi pearsanta an udar ata san iomhphost agus nach tuairimi FSS iad. Ma fuair tu an riomhphost seo tri dhearmad, bheadh muid buioch da gcuirfea in iuil don Deasc Seirbhisi ECT ar an nguthan ag +353 1 6352757 no ar an riomhphost chuig service.desk@xxxxxx agus ansin glan an riomhphost seo ded' choras." "Information in this email (including attachments) is confidential. It is intended for receipt and consideration only by the intended recipient. If you are not an addressee or intended recipient, any use, dissemination, distribution, disclosure, publication or copying of information contained in this email is strictly prohibited. Opinions expressed in this email may be personal to the author and are not necessarily the opinions of the HSE. If this email has been received by you in error we would be grateful if you could immediately notify the ICT Service Desk by telephone at +353 1 6352757 or by email to service.desk@xxxxxx and thereafter delete this e-mail from your system" ----------------------------------------------------------------------------