select a.clientname, c.catlabel
from clientsegueads a product_adcategories b product_categories c
WHERE b.catid
IN (select c.catid from product_categories where c.cadid = "493")
LIMIT 3;

clientsegueads
----------------------
cadid
clientname

product_adcategories (bridge table)
--------------------------------
cadid
cat_id

product_categories
----------------------------
cat_id
cat_label

any clues what im donig wrong ?

im trying to select 3 random products from clientsegueads from the same category such as Health.

I tried this .. doesnt work .. not sure ???

SELECT a.clientname
FROM clientsegueads a LEFT JOIN product_adcategories b ON a.cadid = b.cadid
LEFT JOIN product_categories c ON ( b.catid = c.catid
AND b.cadid = "342" )
WHERE a.disabled = 'N'
AND stopdate > NOW( )
AND b.cadid <> "342"
ORDER BY RAND( )
LIMIT 3

Can you provide some DDL + data so that I may provide a quick solution for you?

First guess :