A method of operating an internal combustion engine with variable gas exchange timing

The invention relates to a method which in a variety of operating modes comprises the following steps: direct exhaust gas recirculation by delayed closure of the exhaust valve; exhaust gas retention by introduction of a compression and expansion period with closed charge changing valves; charging of the combustion chamber with exhaust gas by opening the exhaust valve during the induction period while the intake valve is closed and/or division of the combustion process, possibly in combination with an exhaust gas purification measure, into several power strokes for each working cycle. The different operating modes can be adjusted individually for each combustion chamber and each working cycle.