i try to keep the flame as far to the right of the bowl as i can. i hate when people make a circle around the entire bowl and burn the whole thing with the first hit. like someone said, it just allows for more green hits. i have smoked in groups as big as like 5 and most people know to burn as little as they can and i have gotten the bowl back with one more sliver of a green hit. its a courtesy thing i guess.