Abstract: There is provided a method and apparatus for compression release retarding of an internal combustion engine. The apparatus opens an exhaust valve of each cylinder of the engine during a compression stroke and near the top dead center position. An exhaust valve of a second cylinder is open while the exhaust valve of the first cylinder is so open, the second cylinder being on its intake stroke. The apparatus may open the normally closed exhaust valves of a set of cylinders for a period of time when any of the cylinders is near the top dead center position following its compression stroke, during this time at least one of the cylinders of the set being on its intake stroke and all of the cylinders of the set being on the exhaust stroke, the intake stroke or the expansion stroke.