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Suppose the opponents announce a convention that describes a one-suited hand, unknown suit. Your best counter defense is to bid your suit at the three level, not forcing. This takes away room from the opponents, forcing them to make a three-level decision, rather than a safer two-level decision.

For example, if South bids 2 over 2, West can double to show values, asking his partner to bid his long suit. West strongly suspects that his partner's long suit is hearts, which is why he cannot risk the double of 3. Sometimes by bidding at the three level, you can reap a big reward, when they have a strong fit and cannot find it. On today's hand, East-West can make a game in spades unless you find the unlikely jack-of-clubs opening lead.

This defense can be played against any conventional two-level overcall of your 1NT opening.

Summary: The double of a conventional overcall shows a hand strong enough to invite or force to game. A bid at the two level or three level is natural and not forcing (but at the three level it shows a six-card suit).

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