We investigate several versions of a cardinal characteristic f defined
by Frankiewicz. Vojtas showed b less than or equal to f, and Blass sh
owed f less than or equal to min(partial derivative, unif(K)). We show
that all the versions coincide and that f is greater than or equal to
the splitting number. We prove the consistency of max(b,s) < f and of
f < min(d, unif(K)).