The abundance of evidence supporting ß-blocker therapy has resulted in the widespread acceptance of these drugs in the treatment of heart-failure patients. However, β-blockers are not a homogeneous class of drugs, and important differences in efficacy have been noted between different members of the class. Thus, practicing physicians are faced with a choice when selecting a particular β-blocker for treating heart failure. One of the considerations is whether to choose a selective or a nonselective β-blocker. The results of the Carvedilol or Metoprolol European Trial indicate that carvedilol, a third-generation, nonselective ß-blocker with additional β-blocking, antioxidant, and other properties, is clearly superior to a β1-blocking drug, metoprolol tartrate. The choice between these drugs is therefore unambiguously in favor of carvedilol.