A pile hammer includes a cylinder, a piston displaceably guided in the cylinder, and a striker displaceably guided in the cylinder. The striker is disposed underneath the piston in the operating position of the pile hammer. A combustion chamber is delimited axially by a face surface of the striker that lies in the interior of the cylinder and by a face surface of the piston. Using at least one fuel feed device a predetermined amount of fuel can be introduced into the combustion chamber during each working cycle. A primary fuel feed device is provided, which includes a primary fuel nozzle connected with a primary fuel tank having a fuel with great anti-knock properties. The primary fuel nozzle is structured as a high-pressure injection nozzle. An ignition oil feed device is also provided, which includes an ignition oil nozzle connected with an ignition oil tank having an ignition oil. The ignition oil nozzle is structured as a low-pressure injection nozzle. A method operates such a pile hammer.