A hydraulic system for an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle. A high pressure circuit in which a pressure accumulator, at least one clutch as well as gear selectors and at least one hydraulic pump are arranged, which can be controlled by an electronic control unit. The pressure accumulator can be connected to a hydraulic positioning cylinder via at least one hydraulic path, wherein a control valve that can be controlled by the control unit is arranged upstream thereof, with which a hydraulic pressure at the hydraulic positioning cylinder can be adjusted, and which control valve can be moved between two through-flow positions in order to move a piston in opposing piston strokes via opposing piston travel paths as well as piston speeds in the hydraulic positioning cylinder.