Deal seven tableau columns left to right: one card in the first, two in the second, up to seven in the last.; The top card of each column is face up; everything beneath is face down.; The remaining 24 cards form the stock, face down.
Why people argue about this
People often assume that the stock pile should be face up for easier card identification during play, leading them to argue about why it's kept face down as per the official setup. The confusion arises because this specific detail is crucial for maintaining a hidden element of strategy and preventing immediate card analysis by opponents.