A method for cylinder-charge control is described as implementing an internal recirculation of residual gas in the cylinder, through controlling the closing times of at least one exhaust valve of the respective cylinder and by opening at least one intake valve in the vicinity of top dead center of the piston, along with intermittent discharge of residual gas in front of the at least one intake valve. Within one charge-exchange process in the cylinder, in at least two phases that are offset in time from one another, at least one intake valve is opened. This method optimizes the engine operation in the warm-up phase from the standpoint of consumption, pollutant emission and running smoothness.