Bottom one quarter of tobacco

[benpipesmoking]

loose and dry at the bottom

 

[mso489]

like chasing' says, a little nursing along the burn helps, dumping if there is a lot of white ash, stirring some, and tamping down gently. In any case, if the smoke doesn't taste good, dump it and scoop out the bowl and start over. Never let thrift get ahead of good taste. Many other good suggestions in the thread, so I won't repeat. Gentle sip instead of puffing helps.