A method is disclosed for operating a synchronous machine via a three-phase power controller including three semiconductor controllers and connected to a three-phase network. The method includes determining the phase difference between the magnet-wheel voltage of the synchronous machine and the network voltage of the three-phase network; determining the rotational speed of the rotor of the synchronous machine; determining the phase position of the three-phase network; determining at least some of the stator currents of the synchronous machine; determining a decision characteristic number based upon an advance calculation of the torque curve in the event of activation of at least two of the semiconductor controllers while taking into account the current values for phase difference, rotational speed, stator current, and phase position; and determining at least one switching time point based upon the decision characteristic number, wherein the at least two semiconductor controllers are activated at the switching time point.