A_FAT_Play

Thanks for all the help thus far, although I'm not sure I've advanced very much! The group I play with currently eschew the various bells and whistles used to defend against 1NT openings (e.g. Landy etc.), and have thus far stuck to natural over calls. The problem recurred again today when the sequence 1NT-2♥-P -? occurred. Overcaller had 11 points and a five card ♥ suit. Overcaller's partner had 11 points and four card ♥ support. The partner wanted to invite rather than go straight to game. Had the original bid been in a suit he could just have used UCB. If he goes straight 4♥ there is a risk that partner is actually on the weak side. It might be said that, given that the overcall at the two level shows double-digit points and five of the suit, going straight to game is not much of a risk. However, the partnership was vulnerable, and going to game would still have been a bit of a shot in the dark. In the event responder bid 3♥ which risks being interpreted as 'level of the fit' and being passed. Is there anyway to improve or do we need to bite the bullet and introduce some type of convention?

Thanks for all the help thus far, although I'm not sure I've advanced very much! The group I play with currently eschew the various bells and whistles used to defend against 1NT openings (e.g. Landy etc.), and have thus far stuck to natural over calls. The problem recurred again today when the sequence 1NT-2♥-P -? occurred. Overcaller had 11 points and a five card ♥ suit. Overcaller's partner had 11 points and four card ♥ support. The partner wanted to invite rather than go straight to game. Had the original bid been in a suit he could just have used UCB. If he goes straight 4♥ there is a risk that partner is actually on the weak side. It might be said that, given that the overcall at the two level shows double-digit points and five of the suit, going straight to game is not much of a risk. However, the partnership was vulnerable, and going to game would still have been a bit of a shot in the dark. In the event responder bid 3♥ which risks being interpreted as 'level of the fit' and being passed. Is there anyway to improve or do we need to bite the bullet and introduce some type of convention?

I am an ACOL player who uses weak 1NT, but I suspect the problem is more general. I like using the Unassuming Cue Bid if I have 10+ pts and three card support to find out partner's strength if they overcall an opening bid e.g. 1♦ - 1♥- 1♠ -2♦. However, I don't know if you can do this if the opener bids 1NT. Can you cue bid 1NT e.g. 1NT - 2♥- 2♠ -2NT? If not, how do you find out more about partner's overcall if you are worried you could be missing a game?