It is possible that in pondering this question, I am going to wander a little from the topic. I've been following it off and on, because I like knowing what people think, but haven't replied because, well... how can one have a "favourite" chapter? Besides, what constitutes a chapter? Can I say Appendix A ii "Of Arnor and the Heirs of Isildur?"
Silliness and possible snobbery aside, part of the problem for me is that the chapters are a bit too diverse for me to compartmentalise together
as chapters in my mind. It's a weird problem--don't get me wrong: apparently, I can keep all the chapters from Book V distinct as chapters (maybe because they switch back and forth between characters) and I have strong leanings in that direction--either for "Siege of Gondor" or "The Pyre of Denethor." Then there's "Shadow of the Past" and "The Council of Elrond" which seem almost like intra-narrative appendices. And then there are whole chapters whose names I recognise on sight, but can't for the life of me dredge up, like the penultimate Book III chapter or those denouement chapters from "Field of Cormallen," "The Steward and the King" and whatever comes before "The Scouring of the Shire"--which is itself a contender.
In other words--if I understand myself--I tend to think of
The Lord of the Rings as a unity, or at least as episodic, rather than in terms of chapters. In some cases they overlap, in some cases they don't. That, and I tend not to be a title-recollecting person, it seems.
So... it's really hard to pick. However, I *think* I can narrow it down to a Top 5 (with the caveat that I reserve the right to change it... at any time...). So, in order from first to fifth:
"The Scouring of the Shire"
"The Pyre of Denethor"
"A Conspiracy Unmasked"
"A Knife in the Dark"
"The Steward and the King"
Except... except... I now feel guilty for having only Book I and Book VI chapters--I love the rest of the books too!
I have a problem...