Method for operating an internal combustion engine

A method for operating an internal combustion engine (1), having cylinders (2) including each a longitudinally movable piston (3) delimiting a combustion chamber (4) to which fuel and fresh gas are supplied to form a combustible fuel mix, the fresh gas being supplied through intake ports (13) and combustion exhaust gases being discharged through exhaust ports (14), intake valves (6) and exhaust valves (7) disposed in the intake and, respectively, exhaust ports (13, 14) for controlling the cyclic charge exchange, and a valve operating mechanism (26), for operating the valves (6, 7) in an operating mode with external ignition, in which the fuel mix is ignited by a spark plug (8), and which is provided in part of the load range of the internal combustion engine (1), and an operating mode with compression ignition, in which the control of the gas exchange valves (6, 7) is altered in such a manner that combustion exhaust gases are retained in the combustion chamber (4) and participate in the formation of the fresh gas mix during the following working cycle of the cylinder (2), said method comprising the step of adjusting, during a change in the operating modes, the opening duration of at least one of the gas exchange valves (6, 7) in such a way that the opening time of the exhaust valve (7) and the closing time of the intake valve (6) are maintained approximately identical in both operating modes.