according to the invention , recuperation may be optimized for a hydraulically - operated gas exchange valve by provision of two fluid - filled pressure chambers and a movable regulating piston with two active faces each defining one of the pressure chambers . the pressure chambers are each connected to two hydraulic valves of which the first hydraulic valves may be pressurized from a first pressure reservoir and the second hydraulic valves may be connected to a base pressure reservoir . the first hydraulic valves may furthermore be connected to a second pressure reservoir . a control or regulation device switches the valves , from a rest position in a first accelerating phase and a braking phase . the second pressure reservoir is provided as pressure buffer for providing the pressure in the first pressure reservoir and / or for providing pressure for the fuel pump and / or for the fuel supply to an internal combustion engine and / or for providing pressure for a further gas exchange valve in the same or another combustion cylinder of the internal combustion engine .