Internal combustion engine for a motor vehicle, and method for operating such an internal combustion engine

An internal combustion engine for a motor vehicle, comprising;

• a combustion chamber fillable with air and fuel for operating the internal combustion engine;
• and
• a gas exchange valve which is assigned to the combustion chamber and which is movable between an open position and a first closed position;
• wherein in an operating state of a starting of the internal combustion engine, the gas exchange valve is movable on a path from the open position in a direction of the first closed position into an intermediate position located between the open position and the first closed position and is holdable in the intermediate position at least during a part of a compression cycle of the combustion chamber following the open position of the gas exchange valve and is movable into a second closed position following the intermediate position;
• wherein the part comprises more than a half of the compression cycle and less than a whole of the compression cycle;
• and
• wherein the gas exchange valve is an inlet valve via which the combustion chamber is supplyable at least with the air.