Board Thread:Questions and Answers/@comment-97.97.56.177-20130530153543/@comment-4830404-20130531050656

First question: Go click on an expansion plot, attempt to expand by clicking the Expand button, and from there you should be able to see how many maps you have. If you do not have enough, you can then click a button to request maps, which will take you to your neighbors list. (Be VERY careful not to click the "buy" option, because maps cost an ungodly amount of gold and if you have enough gold to buy them all at once, the game WILL do so).

Second question: Answering requests from neighbors does not cost you anything :)