The invention concerns a piston compressor, particularly a hermetic refrigerant compressor, with a compression chamber, which is limited by a valve plate arrangement having a valve plate with a suction gas opening and a pressure gas opening, a suction valve plate with a suction valve element, and a pressure valve plate with a pressure valve element. It is endeavored to achieve a good efficiency combined with a simple assembly. For this purpose, it is ensured that the pressure valve plate and the suction valve plate are located on the side of the valve plate facing the compression chamber.