A two-stroke engine with valves near bottom dead center that are adapted to prevent intake charge from exiting exhaust ports, wherein the valves are actuated by air pressure difference.

A new engine which incorporates the advantages found in a two-stroke with the advantages found in a four-stroke engine combined.

A stratified scavenging two-stroke engine includes a first scavenging passage that extends from a first scavenging intake that opens to the inside of the crankcase to a scavenging port that opens to the inside of a cylinder, and a second scavenging passage that branches from the first scavenging passage and extends to a second scavenging intake that opens to the inside of the crankcase. An air passage is provided to supply air for pre-scavenging into the first scavenging passage at a position closer to the first scavenging intake than a position at which the second scavenging passage branches from the first scavenging passage. A first check valve inhibits a flow of air from the first scavenging passage during an upward stroke of the piston, and a second check valve inhibits a flow of air and a gaseous mixture from the first scavenging passage during a downward stroke of the piston.