The bytecode shows that two comparisons are being performed here with the middle being duplicated:
>>> import dis
>>> def a():
... return None is None is None
...
>>> dis.dis(a)
2 0 LOAD_CONST 0 (None)
3 LOAD_CONST 0 (None)
6 DUP_TOP
7 ROT_THREE
8 COMPARE_OP 8 (is)
11 JUMP_IF_FALSE_OR_POP 21
14 LOAD_CONST 0 (None)
17 COMPARE_OP 8 (is)
20 RETURN_VALUE
>> 21 ROT_TWO
22 POP_TOP
23 RETURN_VALUE
As stated in the docs for comparisons this is because these operators chain together.
a op b op c
will be translated to a op b and b op c
(note b
is duplicated in the bytecode as shown above)