[Solved] `else` branch only pair to its nearest ‘if’

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Of course it does – the closest if with matching indentation, which is how Python compiles. It wouldn’t make sense in your example:

if x < y:
    print(f'{x} is less than {y}.')
if x > y:
    print(f'{x} is greater than {y}.')
else:
    print(f'{x} is equal to {y}.')

for the else to reference x<y, from a readers point of view. It would be the same in any language (with braces). Closest to what you mean but wouldn’t make sense for your example:

if something:
    print("something")
    if otherThing:
        print("that")
else: print("otherwise!")

Now it’s clear the else belongs to the first if. This is not Python specific at all. If you want a triple check:

if x > y:
     ...
elif x < y:
     ...
else:
     ...

if (else if) else construct – that’s the way all languages handle this, not just Python. This is the same as:

if x > y:
     ...
else:
    if x < y:
        ...
    else:
        ...

which makes clear where each else belongs.

solved `else` branch only pair to its nearest ‘if’