There is no better site for chess oddities than Tim Krabbé's Chess Curiosities. His site isn't very active now, but occasionally something new does come up. Recently he put up another post in his chess diary, wondering what chess position would be furthest removed from the initial position. That is, if you start with a position and go backwards to the initial position move by move without repetitions, what would the position look like that has the longest shortest move order? It wouldn't be bare kings, as Sam Loyd showed that bare kings could be achieved from the initial position in 17 moves.
Read more about it at Mr. Krabbé's excellent site, where he might explain things a little more clearly than I have. The diary entry in question is number 397. Here's the position that one of his friends came up with for the furthest position:
Harry Goldsteen, after L. Ceriani & K. Fabel
The Furthest Position, 185 moves
Original, 2008
The Furthest Position, 185 moves
Original, 2008
After 185...Ba5+
Krabbé provides the moves to get to this position at his website, so this is a legal position! If this kind of thing interests you, give it a look.
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