After the attacker plays an action and both players pass on the chain, does focus return to the attacker if the defender passes without creating a new chain, or does the showdown end due to consecutive passes on an empty chain?

Ruling: Focus returns to the attacker, who can play another action. The showdown only ends when both players consecutively pass focus on an empty chain (no chain exists). A pass that occurs while responding to a chain does not count toward the two consecutive passes needed to end the showdown.

Sequence:

• Attacker plays action, creating a chain
• Both players pass priority on the chain
• Chain resolves
• Focus passes to defender (automatic, not a "chosen pass")
• Defender passes without creating a chain (first chosen pass)
• Focus returns to attacker, who may play another action
• If attacker also passes without creating a chain, that would be the second consecutive pass, ending the showdown

Nuances:

• The automatic passing of focus when a chain resolves does not count as a "chosen pass" for the purpose of ending the showdown
• If the attacker passes without creating a chain, then the defender passes, that would be two consecutive passes on an empty chain and would end the showdown
• To continue playing actions after the defender passes, the attacker must have created a chain previously (or the defender must create one)