Method for operating a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine

The inventive adjustment of the exhaust valve opening prior to the shutdown of a selected cylinder of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine allows controlling the amount of exhaust gas to remain in the cylinder. The mass of exhaust gas left in the cylinder is large enough on the one hand, such that the pressure in the cylinder does not undercut the pressure level where the valves unintentionally open due to gas forces but also small enough on the other hand, such that the maximum allowed in-cylinder pressure is not exceeded.