I know this has been hashed and rehashed but would like to put in my 2 cents worth, For a long time when i first began pipe smoking I was basically smoking matches. Finally a very wise old smoker took me under his wing and corrected my mistakes. He had me smoke a bowl in his presents and explain what I was doing wrong. Fill your pipe fairly loosely and light evenly. That is the false light. Let it go out and then tamp lightly and light again. As the tobacco burns down very lightly tamp. Continue this now and then to the bottom of the bowl. Always smoke to the bottom in order to form a good cake in the heel. I'm sure many of you already know this but thought I would pass it on for some of the newer smokers. Forgive me for noy making paragraphs.