fromageGB, on 2013-November-13, 05:49, said:
Then responder with an 8 count is forced to reply, or you miss 3NT, so you end up at the 2NT or 3 level with no super fit on a combined 20 count. Come back Gazzilli, all is forgiven.
The idea is if partner passes with an 8 count he has a stiff heart (else he would bid 2H). Opposite an 8 count with a stiff heart, game might not be good. Of course, we can sometimes miss a good game opposite a stiff heart when partner passes, but by jump shifting we will probably get to far more bad games. When partner has 5-9 and a stiff heart (and let's be honest partner might respond lighter than that when he has spades), and my options are to play game (via bidding 3D) or to play 2D (via bidding 2D), I would expect 2D to work far better. Add to that that many 9 counts and some 8 counts with a diamond fit will bid 3D over 2D, and 2D looks even better.
Of course you are right that the wide range of standard 2m bids causes inaccuracies, and playing strong club or gazilli helps this, but if you are playing standard you bid 2D with this hand.