public class NeverTellMeTheOdds {public static void main(String[] args){
int counter = 0;
while(counter <=50){
System.out.println(counter);
counter = counter += 2;

}
}


}

counter = counter += 2;

The 'counter =' on the far left is basically doing nothing. You're saying:

counter is assigned the value of counter being assigned the value of itself plus 2.

counter += 2; ("counter is assigned the value of itself plus 2.") would have done the job on its own.

It's definitely more important that your code works (which yours does) while you're learning. So don't worry about it too much

 It would seem that I did indeed subscribe myself to the redundant department of redundancy.  I shall throw myself upon my sword posthaste.