database - Joining 3 MySQL tables to display all data -

i've read countless threads on stackoverflow regarding matters similar this, i'm struggling solve issue , understand various mysql join queries. i'm in days of learning mysql, , appreciated.

i have 3 tables:

1. auction
2. category
3. lot

auction , category have unique primary key , auction date, category title column respectively.

lot displays lot title, lot description etc... , links auction , category table using respective id's.

i wish display lot table showing rows including auction date , category title.

my failed attempt:

select l.lotid, l.lotnumber, l.lottitle, l.lotdescription, c.categorytitle, a.auctiondate, l.estimatefrom, l.estimateto, l.photo, l.datecreated, l.lastmodified  lot l join category c on l.categoryid = c.categoryid join auction on l.auctionid = a.auctionid order l.lotnumber; 

this acting query, i'm sure should, omitting rows whereby categorytitle , auctiondate not match

is there simple fix?

many thanks

use left join:

select      l.lotid,      l.lotnumber,      l.lottitle,      l.lotdescription,      ifnull(c.categorytitle,'n/a'),      ifnull(a.auctiondate,'n/a'),      l.estimatefrom,      l.estimateto,      l.photo,      l.datecreated,      l.lastmodified       lot l left join category c      on l.categoryid = c.categoryid left join auction      on l.auctionid = a.auctionid order      l.lotnumber;